Does anyone have any resources about how much the Drug War Costs?

[killbotfactory]

Frankly I don't know where to start.

I'd like to see how much we pump into this stupid "war", how much we've spent over the years, current budget, how much it costs to keep a non-violent drug offender in prison, how many there are, etc.

Also any related info, like how many new restrictive laws have been passed in the name of fighting drugs, how much the black market makes off the war, which companies lobby the hardest against decriminlization or medical marijuana, any info on Plan Columbia and it's failure, etc...

Thanks, any help would be appreciated.

[teach1st]

1. Start here...

http://www.drugsense.org/wodclock.htm

[NorCalDem]

2. I wonder if anyone else noticed

that drug arrests are down between 2000 and 2004. I don't know where the statistics are (any help please!!!) but I am fairly sure that I've seen statistics showing increases drug usage over that time. If this is so (stats please!!) it might appear that Mr. Bush is slipping in protecting America from the carnage that drugs unleash upon society, or so I'm told, right?

Hold on, give me a second while I light this joint.

On edit: I realize I'm not making sense... :D

[teach1st]

3. I worry when people make sense...

These only goe to 2003, I think..

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/dcf/enforce.htm
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/glance/tables/drugtab.htm

You might try here

http://www.drugstory.org/drug_stats/crime_statistics.asp

I like to read the Drug War Chronicle once in a while

http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/391/index.shtml

[Asgaya Dihi]

4. Depends

Cost depends on what we include. Generally it's just direct State and Federal spending, but the following page lists some additional costs as well and itemizes it for us by category with several sub-sections.

http://www.briancbennett.com/charts/fed-data/costs/costs05.htm

[ms liberty]

5. Try these sites for info

Marijuana Policy Project

Lindesmith Center

National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws

Also, Alternet has a drug war section, it's always interesting.

(Yea, it's a pet peeve of mine, this endless useless waste of govt time and money)

[Asgaya Dihi]

6. Another for an overview

If you're not sure where to start, this should confuse you more ;) But it's a good start for an overview into the drug war.

http://www.dpf.org/homepage.cfm

On the right side there's a sidebar with various subjects such as "What's Wrong With The Drug War", click on any of those and it'll take you to sub sections for an overview of various aspects. Not the most complete of sources on its own, but a good place to get familiar with some of the aspects and pick up terms to search for more if you want.

[killbotfactory]

7. Thanks Everyone

Great links!

[sweetheart]

8. The problem are the indirect costs

When a person dies from an overdose because the chemicals they consume
are unregulated, it is an avoidable death, and an indirect cost of the
WOD. The insurgency and corruption in mexico, columbia, bolivia, and
many carribean nations, and all the lives lost, economics destroyed and
military spent to repress.. ALL of that is indirect costs.

Most american prisons, most police, most criminal court time, most
street violence and all related policing are all indirect costs of the
drugs policy. The costs are in the hundreds of billions per year.

It is the single most divisive policy pursued without any respect for
evidence or reality. One book has a chilling statistic, that by 2020,
at current drugs incarceration rates, every single person in california
will either be in prison, or part of the prison-police complex.

It is completely unsustainable and will ultimately result in the collapse
of the USA if they do not grow up and deal with drugs using more
realistic methods.