The War on Drugs is a war on all of us. Drug offenses are the leading cause for arrest in the United States with over 1 million arrests in 2020 for possession alone. Some 2.5 million people are incarcerated in the U.S. over drug crimes, which is 1-in-5 people in the prison population. Worst of all, the War on Drugs has specifically been used to target minorities and break up civil rights groups.
This violent, destructive backdrop has been used as an excuse to erode Americans’ 4th and 5th amendment rights in the name of stopping the drug trade. It has not stopped the drug trade.
The Libertarian Party will work to bring an immediate end to the War on Drugs, reform the drug-related criminal justice system, and focus on rehabilitation for addicts in lieu of typical punitive measures that do not solve root problems while encouraging those with problems to hide them instead of seeking help.
Harsher sentencing, or amplified force against illegal drugs has proven to be an abject failure. During the failed “War on Drugs,” more, and more dangerous substances are being substituted into the black market system, leading to mass overdoses – this can be remedied by legalizing drug usage, which provides free market regulation of substances and purity.
By freeing the market and helping those who struggle with addiction, a peaceful renaissance in drug products, health, and wellness can be achieved.