The American War On Drugs - 1614 Words

The American War on Drugs has aimed to abolish drug abuse through tough laws and punitive enforcement within and beyond United States’ borders. Although the term was only coined in 1971, it seems as though the War on Drugs is failing more miserably than ever before. Global consumption of opiates, cocaine, and marijuana has increased by 35 percent, 27 percent, and 9 percent between 1998 and 2008, according to the United Nations. This suggests that the global supply of illegal drugs is increasing while the drugs themselves become cheaper, fixed, and abundant. (Schlosser, 1994) But who are the consumers of marijuana anyway? In the United States alone, nearly half (49 percent) of Americans admitted to trying cannabis, while 12 percent have used it within just this past year, and those numbers are steadily increasing. A recent nationwide survey from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) revealed that 18.9 million (7.3 percent) of Americans 12 to 17 years old had used marijuana in the prior month. Cannabis is in fact an extremely popular recreational drug around the world, just behind alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco. Tetrahydrocannabinol’s (THC) primary psychoactive effect is a state of relaxation, and to a lesser degree, forms of euphoria. Secondary psychoactive effects of THC are that of philosophical thinking, introspection, metacognition, in anxiety and paranoia cases. The psychoactive metabolite of THC produced in the liver (11-OH-THC)Show MoreRelatedThe American War On Drugs1598 Words   |  7 Pages The American â€Å"War on Drugs† war created to keep an exorbitant amount of people behind bars, and in a subservient status. First, America has a storied history when it comes to marijuana use. However, within the last 50 years legislation pertaining to drug use and punishment has increased significantly. In the modern era, especially hard times have hit minority communities thanks to these drug laws. W hile being unfairly targeted by drug laws and law enforcement, minorities in America are havingRead MoreWar On Drugs And The American Society2206 Words   |  9 PagesModern America Ashley. C. Johnson May 11,2016 War on Drugs and the American Society The idea of what constitute a crime, or which acts are legal and illegal have been changed over the course of time. For example, marijuana is a drug that been used for medical as well as recreational purposes. Today it is considered legal in many states, whereas in 1900s. it was illegal. This is one of many examples that shows that there have been changes made to the American policies and also how society’s views haveRead MoreMexican-American Drug War1105 Words   |  5 PagesThe Mexican drug-trafficking cartels are said to have been established in the 1980s by a man named Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo, also known as â€Å"The Godfather†. With the help of Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo and Rafael Caro Quintero, Miguel started the Guadalajara Cartel, which is one of the first to have thrived from association with the Colombian cocaine trade. The two men who helped Miguel Gallardo establish the cartel were arrested, so Gallardo, the single leader of the cartel â€Å"was smart enough to privatizeRead MoreThe War On Drugs And Its Effects On American Soil1608 Words   |  7 Pagesinflux of drugs in America has resulted in legislative actions to halt the consumption, possession, and sales of most drugs. The extent to these measures are better known as â€Å"The War on Drugs;† a term coined in June of 1971 by former President Richard Nixon. The war on drugs is indeed a war; it induces biased, civil attacks on minority groups in America, executed by law enforcement officials through criminal racism. In the course of my paper, I will explain the facts and details that prove the war on drugsRead MoreThe War On Drugs : American Foreign And Domestic Policy1676 Words   |  7 Pagescriminalization of drug use. In June 1971, President Nixon declared a â€Å"war on drugs.† He dramatically increased the size and presence of federal drug control agencies, and pushed through measures such as mandatory sentencing and no-knock warrants. . The War on Drugs has been a centerpiece of American foreign and domestic policy. The rhetoric of war shaped the impact of methods. Not only does war require military strategies, but an enemy as well. In this case it was easy to construct African Americans and peopleRead MoreDrug Trafficking And Its Effects On The American Civil War1075 Words   |  5 PagesThe history of drug trafficking goes back to the nineteenth century when drugs like heroin, cocaine and morphine were introduced into society and exposed people to the dangers of abuse and addiction. The US began adopting restrictions on drug use, distribution and trafficking both locally and the international production of coca and opium crops, but it also elicited a massive kickback from drug cartels. In the 1850s, Chinese immigrants introduced opium smoking when they came to CaliforniaRead MoreAmerican Drug War : The Last White Hope1245 Words   |  5 Pages American Drug War Essay Cultural Awareness CRIM103 21 Apr 2013 Danielle Walters / Ivy Tech Community College James Reed Synopsis I chose to watch a documentary called American Drug War: The Last White Hope, and do a little research on the war on drugs. The documentary I chose was very interesting. I learned several things about the war on drugs, as well as operations that have been swept under the rug. This documentary also provided some chilling statistics on deaths due to legal andRead MoreEssay on Mexican/Latin American â€Å"War† on Drugs and Trafficking1122 Words   |  5 PagesThe international drug trade from Latin American states is having an impact on a global scale. The trafficking of drugs along with corruptness and murder is an international conflict that is being fought daily. There are many aspects of the drug war from Mexico and other Latin American states which have effects on United States policy as well as policies from other countries that participate in the global suppression of illegal drugs. It can be hard to differentiate between conflict and issue inRead MoreThe Drug War Between American Border And Mexican Cartels1872 Words   |  8 PagesEveryone is aware of the ongoing drug war between American border patrol agents who wish to fulfil their duty which is to defend the border and Mexican cartels who seek only to expand their narcotic empire at the United States and Mexican border. The Mexican cartels are often times defined as ruthless outlaws who infiltrate and distribute narcotics into the United States in order to maintain high prices and eliminate competition. Their methods are immoral and executed with ease because of their accessRead MoreEssay on The American Drug War Ââ€" a Conflict Theory Perspective2680 Words   |  11 PagesMovement, the anti-War Movement during the Vietnam era, and the increasing presence of a widespread, politically active and highly vocalized youth counterculture led the United States government to feel that maybe, they were losing cont rol of their population. The white, upper class men, who for centuries had dominated the political realm, began to feel their grip on power falter. By targeting drug use, the government would be free to deal with minorities especially African Americans, Hispanics, the