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The war on drugs has been raging on for a few decades to no avail. Drug use, especially cannabis, is at an all time high and continuing to grow as increased enforcement efforts seem to have no effect. These rapidly growing consumption trends are indicative of larger and far more prevalent issues.
Firstly, prohibition has proven to be ineffective at reducing levels cannabis use. That is because enforcement methods focus on the supply side of the market leaving the existing demand unhindered. Statistics show that cannabis use is rising regardless of any attempts to curb it.
Secondly, unrealistic policy goals create an environment where organised crime and gangsterism is allowed to thrive. Government sits with its head in the sand and refuses to acknowledge the fact that their policies have reached the point of causing more harm than good. As a result enforcement efforts are set up for repeated failure by outdated practices, meaning the drug free world will remain forever out of reach.
Thirdly, the degree of individual autonomy involved with smoking cannabis is a clear indication that the decision depends on a variety of different factors. Legal status is merely one example of the aforementioned factors and in practice has a very marginal effect on consumption patterns.
Fourthly, policy measures promote pervasive patterns of stigma and discrimination, especially among the youth and marginal communities. Drug war rhetoric is used to brand people as part of a drug problem and justify certain human rights abuses. Poor communities tend to bear the brunt of the enforcement effort because the unregulated state of cannabis creates easy opportunities for income.
The cannabis movement is no longer part of the drug problem but rather has become a political minority seeking to protect and promote the rights of its members.
