The World Health Organization Documents Failure of U.S. Drug Policies

News Type: Event — Seeded on Thu Jul 3, 2008 4:58 PM EDT

Article Source: AlterNet.org

Some of the most striking numbers are from the Netherlands, where adults are permitted to possess a small of marijuana and purchase it from regulated businesses. Some U.S. officials have claimed that these Dutch policies have created some sort of decadent cesspool of drug abuse, but the new study demolishes such assertions: In the Netherlands, only 19.8 percent have used marijuana, less than half the U.S. figure.

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{"commentId":2113258,"authorDomain":"mightyblogger"}

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Here's a more rational world view

In short, Europe is making sure that the cure isn't more costly than the problem. While the U.S. spends tax dollars on police, courts and prisons, Europe spends its taxes on doctors, counselors and clinics. EU policymakers estimate that they save 15 euros in police and health costs for each euro invested in drug education and counseling.

European leaders understand that a society has a choice: tolerate alternative lifestyles or build more prisons. They've made their choice. We're still building more prisons.

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5 votes

#1 - Thu Jul 3, 2008 5:11 PM EDT

{"commentId":2113846,"authorDomain":"tanzarian"}

tanzarian

Any remotely objective person who's studied the issue for five minutes already knows what this study tells us. The "war on drugs" is a massive, ineffective waste of money that does nothing but feed the prison industry and ruin a bunch people's lives over non-violent, consensual "crimes". But the drug warriors haven't cared about things like facts or reasons for years, why should they start now.

{"commentId":2113846,"threadId":"305639","contentId":"1636616","authorDomain":"tanzarian"}

2 votes

#2 - Thu Jul 3, 2008 6:28 PM EDT

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	Global Study: Drug Prohibition Is A Failure	ScienceBlogs	Thu Jul 3	4
	PLoS Medicine - Toward a Global View of Alcohol, Tobacco, Cannabis, and Cocaine Use: Findings from the WHO World Mental Health Surveys	medicine.plosjournals.org	Thu Jul 3	1

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