The International Community Should Do More to End the War on Drugs

Drug addiction is a long, arduous war that over 200 million people wage internationally.

This is a problem that the entire world is facing, but the entire world is not working to solve. The

few countries that have successfully dealt with this war are creating the mold for the solution that

many countries are seeking. The lack of a standing solution is the exact reason why the

international community needs to work together to combat the growing crisis. Once there is a

solution to the problem, it can be regulated with more monitoring on safety. The international

community should do more to end the war on drugs and aid their legalization in the United States

due to the United States’ involvement with other countries, the corruption within the current

policy, and the proven effectiveness of international pressure within other countries.

The United States is so forceful of its knowledge onto other countries but lacks the ability

to accept help from other countries. As many drugs of early times came from other countries, the

United States pushed these incoming cartels back to their native land. The United States also

assists other countries in dealing with these issues that they created through the growing

research. While assisting, the United States also pushed other countries to advocate enforcement,

resulting in a war on drugs that otherwise would not have occurred (Castañeda). The United

States is forceful in its push for a war on drugs and in helping other countries, but does not allow

for any outsider aid. Public officials, such as drug policy expert Keith Humphreys, advocate for a

decrease in the intensity of involvement and enforcement. This pressure for less involvement

stems from inside and outside of the United States, causing turmoil and corruption within the

current drug enforcement policy.

In the United States, corruption can be found in every aspect of the standing drug policy.

Recent statistics provided by Ethan Nadelmann show that in one year nearly 700,000 arrests will
be made and 87% of these arrests will occur due to small amounts of marijuana possession. The

numbers remain low in comparison to 2001 when there were nearly 1.4 million drug arrests.

These statistics show that drug laws are some of the most enforced laws in the United States,

leaving limited resources for molestation, rape, and other crimes (Lynch). As the public becomes

aware of this information, there is a shift in public opinion with a current poll showing that over

70% of the population believes that marijuana possession should not be a crime that results in

incarceration (Nadelmann). Public opinions have also become increasingly favorable of policies

in other countries.

Countries outside of the United States have recently used international molds to shape

their drug policies. Outside of the United States, there are countries that follow the direction of

policies that other nations present. In recent years Portugal has decriminalized use of certain

drugs and instead focused on rehabilitation over incarceration. As of 2016 Canada proposed to

legalize certain illicit drugs and focus on complete legalization of certain drugs and

rehabilitation. These new steps follow the policy that Portugal originally implemented

(Blackwell). Using another country’s policy as a template for other countries should be far more

favorable than it is once its effectiveness is proven.

The drug crisis plaguing the United States can only be solved through the international

community doing more to assist in ending the war on drugs and aid in their legalization. There is

currently enough information drive to limit the corruption within the policy. This also creates

external corruption as the United States places an abundance of its resources into other countries

without accepting the aid of other countries in return. When the international community works

together, there will be less pressure on the United States to aid other countries. There will also be

more external assistance offered. If the United States were more willing to work with other
countries, the situation would resolve and drugs could be legalized and regulated. Once drugs are

regulated, the world will become a safer place.

 Works Cited

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Baker, Charlie, Maura Healey, and Martin J. Walsh. “Do Not Legalize Marijuana in

Massachusetts.” Boston Globe, 7 Mar. 2016, p. A.9. SIRS Issue Researcher, sks.sirs.com.

Blackwell, Tom. “Embrace Portugal’s Narcotics Fix, Canada Told: All Drugs Legal.” National

Post, 20 July 2016, p. A.1. SIRS Issue Researcher, sks.sirs.com.

Castañeda, Jorge. “US Drug Policy Needs to Change to End Mexico’s Drug War.” Mexico’s

Drug War, edited by Margaret Haerens, Greenhaven Press, 2014. At Issue. Opposing

Viewpoints in Context, ic.galegroup.com.

Dreifuss, Ruth. “The Secret to Fighting U.S. Heroin Epidemic.” CNN Wire Service, 19Apr.

2016. SIRS Issue Researcher, sks.sirs.com.

Lane, Charles. “The Hype for Legal Drugs.” Washington Post, 20 Feb. 2014, p. A.17. SIRS Issue

Researcher, sks.sirs.com.

Lynch, Michael W. “The War on Drugs Has Corrupted Law Enforcement.” The War on Drugs,

edited by Tamara L. Roleff, Greenhaven Press, 2004, Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing

Viewpoints in Context. ic.galegroup.com.

Nadelmann, Ethan A. “An End to Marijuana Prohibition.” National Review, July 2004, p. 28+

SIRS Issue Researcher, sks.sirs.com.