Heres The New Research That Finally Tells The Truth About The War On DrugsBy Claire Bernish Laws and policies criminalizing drugs have had no measurable impact on supply or use, according to the study as noted by the Independent, and serve no purpose either scientifically or in terms of public health. Commissioned by Johns Hopkins University and The Lancet, a British medical journal, the study found mass decriminalization programs undertaken by Portugal and the Czech Republic have had enormously constructive results, including public health benefits, cost savings, lower incarceration [rates], and no significant increase in problematic drug use. Portugals model recently became an official subject for consideration by the State of Hawai`i in its search for solutions to drug addiction and mounting costs of the criminalization of minor drug offenses. The Lancet study authors strongly encourage action by influential countries, including the U.S. and U.K., to consider national regulated markets for cannabis such as the policies adopted by Uruguay and several U.S. states. In fact, confirming the somewhat readily apparent, the study criticized harsh drug laws, which have been discriminatory against racial and ethnic minorities and women, and [have] undermined human rights. Evidencing the public health aspect, the study also stated that prison terms for minor drug crimes have made the single biggest contribution to higher rates of infection among drug users including diseases such as hepatitis C and HIV. Echoing findings of a study by the CATO Institute published in 2009, Dr. Chris Breyer of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health said, Its time for us to rethink our approach to global drug policies, and put scientific evidence and public health at the heart of drug policy discussions. Glenn Greenwald, in the CATO study, noted the global shift toward decriminalization since Portugals adoption of its program in 2001. He explained how the countrys move quickly abated common fears: [W]hile there is a widespread perception that bureaucratic changes need to be made to Portugals decriminalization framework to make it more efficient and effective, there is no real debate about whether drugs should once again be criminalized. More significantly, none of the nightmare scenarios touted by preenactment decriminalization opponents from rampant increases in drug usage among the young to the transformation of Lisbon into a haven for drug tourists has occurred. Reiterating the benefits Portugal has experienced, Greenwald also noted: The data show that, judged by virtually every metric, the Portuguese decriminalization framework has been a resounding success. Within this success lie self-evident lessons that should guide drug policy debates around the world. Dr. Breyer explained that misguided national drug policies worldwide are actually policies based on ideas about drug use and dependence that are not scientifically grounded. The global war on drugs has harmed public health, human rights, and development, he said. Scientists, policy advisors, doctors, health experts, activists, and advocates around the planet are warning that its time to end the cruelly ineffective war on drugs. The question is, will the right people finally listen? This article (Heres The New Research That Finally Tells the Truth about the War on Drugs) is free and open source. You have permission to republish this article under a Creative Commons license with attribution to Claire Bernish and theAntiMedia.org. Anti-Media Radio airs weeknights at 11pm Eastern/8pm Pacific. If you spot a typo, email edits@theantimedia.org. The evil war on drugs is illegal. Everyone who supports or enforces it should be hung for treason and genocide because the evil government knew that marijuana cured cancer in 1974. Do away with the war on drugs. Do away with tax payer funded drug intervention programs. Do away with Medicaid support to drug offenders. Do away with all tax payer government and bureaucratic supported drug associations. If somebody wants to screw up their life, their familys life, their friends life . then so be it. If someone DOAs, then let the private citizens pay for the funeral and plot. Im tired of hearing and paying for pathetic losers and their drug addiction, By the way, while I served in the Navy back in the late 1960s, I was wounded and required several months of recovery, with massive amounts of IV drip narcotics like Dilaudid, Demerol, Morphine and many ethanol drips. While on 30 day convalescent leave, I had supplies of oral 50 mg Demerol. And yet, weeks after my medical release, I was drug free with no withdrawal. My addiction was for severe pain relief, not because of mental addiction. It amazes me that some actually claim drug addiction when its all mental addiction. Weak minds claim addiction. YOU could do with some drugsthe mind-opening kindto try and inspire some empathy into your hard self! The War on Drugs (CIA drug running, armed Blackwater goons protecting the poppy fields of Afghanistan, etc.) is a phony as the War on Cancer and the War on Terror (Gladio, 9/11, FSB apt. bombings, ISIS). Yes, so many are living in a BIG LIE! This is a BIG reason many people are on drugs, including the legal prescribed drugs. We are forced to accept this absurd reality spun by the politicians and their media. IT breeds dis-ease! Literally. But then to cover itself, it blames the victims, and thus tries to remain invisible Any study of this type needs to include one important factor. Does this policy involve profits to certain industries or government entities which would diminish if the policy was changed? For example, does the war on drugs make money for the legal profession, the court system, or prisons? Is this money more important to the policy makers than the negative effects of the war on drugs to everyday Americans? Do these industries give money to legislators? This is where the real war on drugs should be fought because the benefits to the citizenry come secondary to these folks. Buy your top quality medical marijuana strains,cannabis oil and hash . Visit our website 420cannabisplug .com 