Policy Memo

Time to change Public Enemy #1

Part 1: Policy Background

The policy this semester I decided to take on was the War on Drugs. This policy is ranked

as one of the most controversial policy choices our government has put into effect. In the

beginning I looked at the war on drugs policy and believed that the whole system needed to be

reformed. The war on drugs must end. And the solution to the problem must be

decriminalization. This would put an end to the discrimination and targeting of certain groups, it

would lower the prison population, considering one of the main offenses committed is nonviolent

and drug related. This would then open alternative approaches to dealing with drugs as an illness

and not a crime. Those approaches would be mandatory rehabilitation, counseling, and services

such as employment support, a system set up to help the individual assimilate back into society

as a functioning and productive citizen. However, over the course of this class, through my

research, interviews and discussing this topic with my peers, my mind began to change. I am

super intrigued and involved with current happenings politically, nationally and internationally

as well so discussing issues is something I enjoy which helps broaden my perspective. I began to

see flaws in my own solution as I realized and believe that some activities such as drug

smuggling and selling of some substances included must be prosecuted. The approach to how we

prosecute these offenses must be changed. I believe a time in jail as a deterrent is needed, as well

as drug counseling and formal probation following up, through my research would be the best

approach to the solution. My research helped me understand more about this policy and its true

intentions of why it was created. This is the field I want to go into for my career, so I have done a

lot of research on this topic. But being at the age I am at I have created more opportunities to
fully understand the policy. My interview was an eye opener and was what made me modify my

solution. I understand the need for strict rules on substances used here in America. However, I do

believe there is no reason some substances need to be used and thus I believe certain substances

must be held to a higher standard and dealt with as such. However, the war on drugs limits our

ability to study these substances to have a better understanding of them such as long term and

short-term effects, or even the medicinal abilities of other substances. My research led me to

understand the properties of drugs and the role they play in our society. For this change to occur,

although states are making progress, and this policy is a federal law. The change must be

addressed at the state level. The federal government has the responsibility to the states. That is

why we elect representatives to voice the states opinions to the federal government, so that they

can hear our needs and make a change. Over the years we have seen historic changes in our

society, and it all starts with the people and with the support of the government of their state such

as gay marriage, which ultimately got federally recognized. States have already taken action such

as Oregon, Washington/DC, Colorado, and California. The more the states start taking action,

that is when the federal government must be Involved and that’s where the ultimate change will

happen. Through my research I found many arguments for and against my policy solution. One

argument I found early on in my research which influenced my thinking in support of my policy

was the decriminalization of drugs. With the decriminalization that wouldn’t make anything

illegal which could open alternatives to prison such a rehab facilities and other services to help

people get clean. The main problem researchers have is that drugs are illegal, so they cannot be

studied to help find a solution. But the opposite to that would the decriminalization would lead to

a drug epidemic where people would just be using, not seeking any help because there is not

deterrence and no reason to not. It would turn to a society on drugs. Which was a main argument
I found against my policy memo. The introduction of free use of these substances according to

Drugwatch.org, would be detrimental t society. These drugs are illegal due to the intoxicating

effects and the side effects produced. Also, the health effects, there is nothing healthy about meth

use or cocaine use. An argument to that would be however detrimental, in America we have the

freedom of choice, and many things we intake that are legal, may be just as detrimental to our

health. So, who is to say what we can and can not use in a free society. A second argument

against my policy would be the mental health. According to James bank, he cited a study from

the National Bureau of Economic Research and it stated that marijuana use has the same impact

on the brain as growing up in a single parent home would. The second argument I would present

for my policy would be when something is deemed illegal, but still a commodity to society. If

there is a want there is a way and as history shows with prohibition of alcohol it created a black

market. This unregulated market is what leads to even more crime and when there is a safe and

regulated market this eliminates predominantly all illegal underground sales.

Part 2: Update

State government over the last years have began to take this policy into their own hands.

California would be the leader in the reform of this policy. A major first step California took to

start reforming this policy was the Proposition that was passed back in 1996 which was Prop

215. According to Ballotpedia.org, prop 215 being passed granted individuals who chose to

medicate with marijuana could legally and would be protected by law. A court case that help

protect patients using medical marijuana, was People v. Kelly. The ruling according to

Ballotpedia.org made clear that the state of California cannot impose more laws through the

legislative process that would restrict patients more than the law already states. Another

Proposition California introduced was Prop 47. Prop 47 made some drug possessions
misdemeanors instead of felonies. Thai resulted in just a fine for simple possession, not intent

and would eliminate unnecessary arrest leading to unnecessary jail time. However not the first, in

California starting January 1st, 2018 it made Marijuana legal. This results in the stopping of

arrest for possession of a certain amount which lowers our prison rates. This led to the defunding

of Police agencies for targeting marijuana. This also led to the release of many people who were

locked up for possession. California is not the only state that has legalized marijuana and looking

at decriminalization. There are currently nine states that have legalized weed with many other

states having some form of law about small possessions of Marijuana. Not only is this happening

at the state level it is happening at the local level as well. According to Drugpolicy.org,

Albuquerque, New Mexico just decriminalized Marijuana possession within its city limits. It is

now the second city in New Mexico to have decriminalized Marijuana possession within its city

limits. There was a court case, Utah V. Strieff, where an officer made an unlawful stop resulting

in a drug possession arrest. However, according to Harvardlawreview.org, the case was

described as a direct violation of our Fourth Amendment, where an illegal stop was made, which

resulted in an illegal search. I agree with this ruling because there should be no reason to be stop

at any moment and be searched. There is no reason and that is exactly why that is the Fourth

Amendment, a right of privacy given to its people.

Part 3: How can I continue?

Through exploring each link, I found the one I saw as the most beneficial would be using

social media for advocacy. This would start support from the local level. A major demographic

in the push for the end of the War on drugs are the one predominantly using social media, young

adults. On social media you have everyone in the world right in front of your fingers, a click

away. This method would be very easy to help spread the message and get it in peoples minds
quick. Your message would have to be persuasive and clear of your goals and you could capture

your audience. And with the use of social media and the growing support you could bring this to

the state level and lobby decisionmakers, with support towards things you want to see

accomplished. I believe this would have the biggest effect because they are the decision makers

and if they see it is a major issue it must be and will be addressed. However, you cannot

forcefully do this. It must be organized and well thought out. And with the organized support you

have gathered through social media it will further your credentials on the issue you are

addressing. The best part about this approach is legislators want to be approached, it helps them

do their jobs better. The last approach I would use to help impact government would be to

organize a Public Demonstration. Just like the use of social media it is an easy way to get your

message out to a lot of people quick. Getting your message out to a multitude of people in a clear

and organized manner will help gather further support and that support creates attention and

pressure, back to the decisionmakers, to do something about it. The people have a demand and

they want and need action. The biggest obstacle there is to reform this policy is the budget. There

is so much money involved in the war on drugs. There is an agency just for targeting drugs. And

that has been the main problem. There Is to much money involved such as arrest which leads to

court and all the fines you must pay to the state. A system has been built upon this policy and it

would be hard to change. We would have to build new facilities which would provide the correct

care people would need. There would have to be people trained to properly understand and work

for the system. But it could be attainable. We have multiple facilities that could just be

converted. Training people in the new system such as drug counselors, would open many job

opportunities for people. The second major obstacle would be changing our whole criminal

justice system. We have built our justice system around drugs. That is the main offenses
prosecuted and targeted by law enforcement. Drug prohibition has been like President Nixon

claimed, “Public enemy number one”. This law has allowed our Criminal Justice system to target

some individuals of society completely unfairly and at a major disproportionate rate. However,

targeted they are prosecuted at an incredible rate. Drug possesions of some form make up a

majority of the percentage of prisons, where they receive no help for their problem except

detention. According to BOP. Gov, 46% of people in prison today are due to a drug related

offense. However, this can be changed. If we didn’t prosecute simple drug offenses it would

lower our prison population at an incredible rate which in turn would save so much money and

that money could be used towards creating and funding a reformed system. We could focus on

rehabilitating people, which would save money because of the lower recidivism rates that would

occur from people become clean rather imprisoned with no help. The War on drugs has been

ultimately a failed an outdated policy that has been integrated into our whole system. It is corrupt

and has been used to target members of society, all while receiving no help. It is time for a

change.
 Works cited

http://www.drugwatch.org/resources/publications/position-statements-and-
resolutions/163-against-legalization-or-decriminalization-of-drugs.html
https://mic.com/articles/73141/4-reasons-why-ending-the-war-on-drugs-would-be-a-
huge-mistake#.HtLVTd06L
https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_215,_the_Medical_Marijuana_Initiative_(1
996)
http://www.drugpolicy.org/press-release/2018/04/albuquerque-city-council-votes-
decriminalize-marijuana-possession
https://www.bop.gov/about/statistics/statistics_inmate_offenses.jsp