I Was Wrong About The War On Drugs -- It's A Failure

I'll admit it, just five years ago I was "Public Enemy Number 1" in the eyes of the Libertarian Party. In my 2002 congressional race for Georgia's Seventh District, the Libertarian Party ran scathing attack ads against my stand on Medical Marijuana.

Today, I am their presidential nominee and will represent libertarians at the top of the ticket on November 4th.

Huh?

That's right, Bob Barr, formerly the War on Drugs loving, Wiccan mocking, Clinton impeaching Republican is the presidential nominee for the Libertarian Party.

Now, you may be asking how this happened and my answer is simple: "The libertarians won."

For more than three decades, the Libertarian Party and small "l" libertarians have done their part to prove to America that liberty is the answer to most of the problems that we face today. Over the past several years, I was one of the many people influenced by this small party.

Whether through the free market or by simply allowing families to make their own decisions regarding the education of their children, libertarians have taught us that liberty does truly work.

In stark contrast, when government attempts to solve our societal problems, it tends to create even more of them, often increasing the size and depth of the original problem. A perfect example of this is the federal War on Drugs.

For years, I served as a federal prosecutor and member of the House of Representatives defending the federal pursuit of the drug prohibition.

Today, I can reflect on my efforts and see no progress in stopping the widespread use of drugs. I'll even argue that America's drug problem is larger today than it was when Richard Nixon first coined the phrase, "War on Drugs," in 1972.

America's drug problem is only compounded by the vast amounts of money directed at this ongoing battle. In 2005, more than $12 billion dollars was spent on federal drug enforcement efforts while another $30 billion was spent to incarcerate non-violent drug offenders.

The result of spending all of those taxpayer's dollars? We now have a huge incarceration tab for non-violent drug offenders and, at most, a 30% interception rate of hard drugs. We are also now plagued with the meth labs that are popping up like poisonous mushrooms across the country.

While it is clear the War on Drugs has been a failure, it is not enough to simply acknowledge that reality. We need to look for solutions that deal with the drug problem without costly and intrusive government agencies, and instead allow for private industry and organizations to put forward solutions that address the real problems.

One such solution was presented to me recently by a libertarian friend and supporter, Glenn Jacobs.

Glenn is a very unique guy with a very unique job. To say Glenn is a "big guy" or "intimidating" is an understatement. He gives people nightmares... literally.

Each week Glenn, who stands nearly seven feet tall, walks into a wrestling ring under the stage name "Kane" to beat other large men for sheer entertainment purposes.

Had I not pursued a career in politics -- and were about two feet taller -- I might have chosen a similar career path. Maybe...

In June of 2007, Glenn and many of his friends and co-workers in the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) were rocked by the news of the Chris Benoit tragedy that took place in my home state of Georgia.

It was speculated that Chris had murdered his family and committed suicide in a steroid or "roid" rage. While it is unclear how much of a role drugs played in Benoit's actions, and whether mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) may also have been a contributing factor, it was clear the WWE had some serious problems within its organization.

In the wake of the tragedy, the head of the WWE, Vince McMahon, and its other leaders looked internally to recognize these problems and address them. Although in the two years before Benoit's death, dozens of wrestlers had been suspended, gone to rehab, or been dismissed under the WWE's recently adopted "Wellness Program," the WWE strengthened its drug policy further, re-emphasizing that its policy wasn't merely a document, but the internal laws of the company that would be enforced.

Additionally, in response to speculation by brain trauma experts that Benoit may have been suffering from brain damage caused by years of blows to the head, WWE added a MTBI component to its Wellness Program.

McMahon didn't wait for Congress to pass a law or parade his wrestlers in front of congressional committee hearings; he took the lead and assumed responsibility over the health and welfare of the individuals who work for the WWE.

As part of the WWE Wellness Program, wrestlers go through regular drug testing and even cardiovascular testing. The latter identified a previously unknown heart condition for the wrestler "MVP" and he was treated for Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome. The government's War on Drugs wouldn't have done that.

Sadly, the long standing War on Drugs also did not save the life of Chris Benoit and his family. The truth is, only Chris could have saved himself through personal responsibility. However, the efforts of Vince McMahon are making progress in preventing other tragedies and harm.

The WWE is taking responsibility for its talent and giving its participants the resources that they need, through rehabilitation, testing and even anonymous help lines, to deal with any possible problems.

While there may be some employees of the organization who may not like random drug tests or being thrown on a treadmill for an EKG, they have the choice of finding a new employer.

That's the beauty of this libertarian solution. It does not take government intervention or our tax dollars. It also does not force anyone to do anything, as it only requires voluntary action and decisions.

While I applaud the WWE for taking on this responsibility with a libertarian solution, don't bother looking for me at an upcoming cage match on Friday Night Smackdown. I don't want to be responsible for hurting any of those little guys.

Comments

[Marlyn]

"$30 billion was spent to incarcerate non-violent drug offenders."

Legalize POT!

[Bettysdad]

Couple of years ago I was talking with an officer in our local Libertarian party., I was getting truly fed up with the guy, and finally said: "All you Libertarians are are lunatic fringe Republicans who like to read porn while smoking pot. After a fw moments thought he absolutely agreed.

The drug war is a major industry a this point. Shutting down would cause huge economic problems. I have no idea what to do.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

You forgot one more characteristic -- griping about taxes. Now please pass the reefer and last month's Penthouse.

[rektruax]

Why isn't it ever... Libertarians are lunatic fringe Democrats who hate school and love guns?

I'm no (L)ibertarian, but this two party system has got to go...

[Snoop2]

If big pharma sold pot, coke and meth it would be just fine!
The only reason those drugs are outlawed is because big business is not makig a buck off of them.
Consequently no big fat contributions to the politicians.

[fredamae]

the reason has something to do with; "the reason they" cannot "make a buck off Cannabis and Cocaine etc" is because the drugs "are created naturally, from plants and cannot be reproduced by drug makers for profit in their natural form".
(i cannot find the data for this, but i believe that is the jist of it)

IF this Gov't offered a Tax Break to Americans based upon Cannabis Legalization, We would ALL be able to buy a Pack of 20 Cannabis cigarettes, tomorrow at the local 7-11. Thats how ridiculous the Drug Laws are! It goes to the depth of concern over actual drug use VS. The Profit Margin for those who do Profit from Drug Policy and Law.

"They" say Harm Reduction through Education is Bogus too. Now why would "they" say that?

[darthmaul]

I'm not sure about this. It's probably easier to grow pot then tobacco. If the tobacco industry could figure out a way to legalize it and sell it, I'm sure they would. It's all about the money.

The issue is that the "war on drugs" funds an "Army" of law enforcement officers, bureaucrats and other ancillary personnel. If drugs are legalized, they are out of a job. The title of Joe Haldeman's book "The Forever War." would be the perfect name for the war on drugs.

[UnbiasView]

So you think legalizeing meth would be a good idea . . . speechless.

[j.gold]

UnbiasView-

Does it being illegal stop the people who want to do it? No!

Would most people start doing if it were legal? No!

So all that it being illegal does is stop people from getting the help they need to get off of it. It puts them in jail not rehab and then we have to deal with a meth addict made worse by jail. Jail uses the money we could use for rehab and education. Most people who do heavy drugs have self esteem problems to begin with and then you put them in jail and tell them they area worthless piece of sh*t not worthy of fixing and expect that to help? Drug prohibition has ruined more families then it has helped. I could go into how rich people get rehab for drug violations and poor people get jail, or how all we need to do is look back at alcohol prohibition and how it effected society but then this would be a book.

We have criminalized a social problem and it is a utter failure for our society.

We need to legalize all drugs with a strict over 18 policy and tax them.

[separatingwheatfromchaff]

As long as there is a market for drugs there will be drugs sold.If enough drugs are confiscated the only result is higher prices which make users more dangerous because they need to get more money and they end up on "COPS" as wife beaters or crazed "addicts" to scare the general public. .. What is needed is a comprehensive approach to help the people addicted to drugs find help with their circumstan­ces.Arrest­ing someone for drug use and forever branding him/her as untrustwor­thy,danger­ous,crimin­al and unworthy of employment is a surefire way to fill our prisons up with angry people.Privatized prisons are also rewarded for keeping their cells filled to capacity,having more prisoners adds to this recipe for disaster.We don't need a "drug czar" that comes from law enforcement running a "war on drugs".We need a former addict that has been rehabilitated and educated in the field of addiction who has a genuine mission of helping people, put him/her in charge of a new department that respects addicts as people.Of course there are addicts that are criminal and violent and they should be dealt with in the justice system,but the majority are you and me and our sons and daughters being battered by a system that could care less if you live or die.

[fredamae]

well, lets take a better look at the Prison-Industrial Complex

"The United States spends an estimated $60 billion [30] each year on corrections. It costs an average of $88 dollars a day per prisoner.[citation needed"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prison-industrial_complex

"IMPORTING AND EXPORTING INMATES:
Profits are so good that now there is a new business: importing inmates with long sentences, meaning the worst criminals. When a federal judge ruled that overcrowding in Texas prisons was cruel and unusual punishment, the CCA signed contracts with sheriffs in poor counties to build and run new jails and share the profits. According to a December 1998 Atlantic Monthly magazine article, this program was backed by investors from Merrill-Lynch, Shearson-Lehman, American Express and Allstate, and the operation was scattered all over rural Texas. That state's governor, Ann Richards, followed the example of Mario Cuomo in New York "
http://houston.craigslist.org/pol/718982857.html

Are there More Prisons than Farms?
"Today there are more prisons than farmers! Rural Americans - who once farmed, had dairy farms, or were in the timber business etc, now find they are competing for prisons to be built in their communities! Snake oil salesmen, in the guise of Economic Development, promise lucrative wages, and a vibrant community. "
http://www.rense.com/general69/newjob.htm

there is a Lot of Concern and Information out there on this...WE must be responsible to learn and Act!

[yappnmutt]

yes it is time for the "law enforcement full employment act " to end. its time for cops to go back to giving traffic tickets, corralling drunks, and breaking up domestic disputes. its time for trial lawyers to find another gravy train. its time for prisons to be the permanent home for violent criminals. its time quit criminalizing otherwise productive citizens and restore our civil rights pre drug war. its time to burn a fat one.

[iluvsam]

And Mr. Barr, what about all of those unemployed, homeless durg addicts who don't have ANY employer? What's the solution for them? How does what you say in any way stop someone from making a meth in their home so they can sell it in order to feed their kids? People produce and sell drugs to make money---plain and simple. On the other hand, people DO drugs for a variety of reasons.

The only solution is to legalize with regulation and then tax the hell out of it. Keeping drugs illegal and then having EMPLOYERS come up with a solution doesn't solve the problem in the slightest as it doesn't address why people produce these substances, why people sell these substances, why people ingest these substances, or why people actually become addicted to these substances.

[framante]

Why can't we understand that any time the government tries to outlaw a human appetite, it is doomed to failure. History tells us this. When it comes to drugs, prostitution, and abortion, the reasonable thing to do is accept the fact that human beings want to do these things, and will, no matter what the government says. The government (we) should accept that these things will occur as a part of the human condition, and we should, at most, manage them, not try to outlaw them. Fornication and alcohol use are examples.

[MajorKong]

This pretty much proves the saying that Libertarian is just a Republican who wants to smoke pot. While I agree with him 100% about the war on drugs, Libertarian economic policies are straight out of the Gilded Age.

[MsLiz]

Agreed. Also libertarians don't believe in zoning, as it restricts the rights of the property owner to build a gas station next to your house.

[Counterglow]

Wow, Bob, you really had me going there, for a minute. Then you had to start talking about making employers free to impose all kinds of onerous conditions on employment in a limited job market. I guess if you look at it that way, you could make a case against hiring people of a particular race or religion because your best customers might go elsewhere and ruin your business.

Basically, if you can do the job, nobody's got any business prying into your private life.

[lloydc123]

When we have people in the powerful "War on Drugs" beaurocracy making handsome salaries and handsome retirements, they will continue the failures. If they succeed, they lose their jobs; If they fail, they perpetuate their existence.

[Necron99]

Hmmm...who else does that remind me of?

...oh yeah, big pharma.

(sorry, I digressed, couldn't help it)

[geobushono]

libertarians are happy to get you stoned....­.......bec­ause they will have you working for 25 cents/hr........oh no wait, they're going to open the borders and hire the newbies for 15 cents/hr..­......ligh­t em if you got em.

[likeicare]

You obviously have either never smoked, or are hopelessly anal-retentive.

Or, you work for the DEA, where anal-retentiveness is a job requirement.

[Umungus]

Republican's are always on the wrong side of the issues. People are Republicans until something happens to them.

How many Republicans have changed their stance on cultural issues when it personally affects them? Nancy Reagan, Bill Brady, Arlen Specter.

How many Republicans do you know, when they are personally affected by health or societal issues realize they were wrong?

[Jason357]

"While there may be some employees of the organization who may not like random drug tests or being thrown on a treadmill for an EKG, they have the choice of finding a new employer."

I am certainly getting sick and tired of that sort of logic. People just can't leave their jobs. It's the same when stores insist on marketing personal information of customers. They have to buy groceries somewhere. Or, apartment complexes and landlords who ask for far more personal information than they actually need for a credit check, without any obligation for how they keep that information secure. Oh, just go live somewhere else. Where am I supposed to live if everyone does it? Where am I supposed to work if everyone drug tests. I don't think you've changed at all.

I can see testing for a particular drug, such as steroids, that are known to cause damaging effects and endanger others, but I also bet the WWE is testing for THC.
***
(7) Illegal drugs. The possession, use, and/or distribution of any drug made illegal to possess, use and/or distribute by the laws of the United States of America and/or any of its fifty states is prohibited by this Policy.
****

Yep, just what I thought. Just another zero tolerance program. What on earth does smoking a joint have to do with a guy on steroids going nuts and killing his family?

[happyblackman]

.Wow, handsome boy Barr is now a Libertarian? Laughable at best! This is one of the most partisan, Republican politicians I have seen in my 2o years of following politics! His article talks about his change of heart on bud; which I do not beleive for a second! Libertarians are not just pro-drugs. They are also anti big brother, and do not want the government deciding what the can do with their bodies, and what they can have in their homes. Will he fit in?Let's see.

Not only was he the point man on filing numerous articles of impeachment against Clinton - with the majority of them coming before the Lewinski scandal, he also was part of one of the most partisan congress' ever!

He introduced legislation to forbid cities from suing the tobacco companies, even though most of these cities had Republican mayors saying that it is unconstitutional to take away access to the judicial branch. He is anti-constitution, anti-women's issues, anti-diversity!

He defended his attending a white supremecy group's dinner, as it's keynote speaker, by saying his staff scheduled the appoinment on his behalf, and he didn't know about the group' s principals. Yet he still broke bread with them, and spoke at their function!

A leapard cannot change its spots! He is just another power hungry politician, trying to take advantage of the voters, and their short memories, and it won't work!

[Truthhurts60]

The War on Drugs is just code word for the War on Black People and Hispanics. It is a complete joke that is only enforced on certain groups. I go to Ucla and grew up in south-central los angeles and was surprised at how much drug-abuse is going on out here. Bobb Barr and other political figures who pushed this war on drugs knew that it was aimed at these groups and are responsible for the disproportionate rates of incarceration.

I say if you want to have a war on drugs, let's go after the millions of non-black kids and adults who use and abuse drugs and see how it feels when 2/3 of the jails are made up of non black and brown youth.

[heal57]

it's not just black and brown people; it's POOR people of every color and creed. Drugs should be decriminalized. I have seen prosecutors and lawyers doing drugs in their own homes and other places. The war of drugs just makes too much money for certain people. Nobody should go to prison for just being addicted to drugs. They need rehab which is not available, a good job with good training and mentors. Putting people in prison for useing drugs is just plain wrong.
We need to make big changes in our country.
Bob Barr is a pathetic excuse for a political wannabe leader.

[Sabreen60]

70% of black men who are incarcerated are there for non-violent drug crimes.

[StephenJK]

Well, praytell, what about the 1000's of meth busts across the US. Mostly WHITE RURAL FOLKS getting sentenced then. Now what?

[queotic]

Now what? Well, consider the fact that even though the majority of drug users in this country are white, the majority of people locked up for drug USE are black or Latino.

[Jasel]

Sorry but despite the fact that whites make up over 65% of drug users they make up less than 15% of drug arrests. Blacks while making up about 13% of drug users make up over 70% of drug arrests and convictions. It's more than just a poor people's problem. Believe me there are plenty of whites in middle and upper class suburbia and social circles who are smoking, snorting, and popping pretty much anything they can get their hands on with no consequences whatsoever.

The War on Drugs is and has always been about race. When you have such sentencing and conviction disparities as well as laws that give harsher sentences for using crack over cocaine when the former is used almost exclusively by blacks and the latter predominantly by whites. Fortunately I believe they got rid of that sentencing disparity.

Sorry but when it comes to illegal drug, not to mention our justice system period, there is definitely a bias against minorities and one that works for whites.

If you need sources you can check the Department of Justice's homepage. The FBI might have it as well but I'm not sure.