Traffic How The Movie Portrays United States Drug Policy
Submitted by recreation on 06/30/2008 05:21 PM
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Traffic How The Movie Portrays United States Drug Policy
According to their website, the Drug Enforcement Agency spent over 18 billion dollars last year. (http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/agency/staffingchart1.htm) I would estimate that states spend at least that nationwide. The question remains: Is it worth it? Should the United States continue to pour billions of dollars into the war on drugs? The movie Traffic poses the same question. One of my favorite directors, Steven Soderbergh addresses this issue from various levels. At the world wide level, how the drugs come in from Mexico. At a national level, how the drugs are distributed throughout the country. Finally at a local level, where drugs find the hands of addicts, even addicts who happen to be the daughter of the new U.S. drug czar. Keep fighting the war on drugs? My opinion is yes, but I would change where the money comes from and where it is spent.
Ask around this campus whether marijuana should be legalized and I bet an overwhelming majority would say yes. I generally don't align myself with the opinions of the majority around here but on this issue I'll agree. However, marijuana is where I draw the line. I realize that the legalization of one drug is a slippery slope and soon you would have the crack heads asking when they can get their rocks' at Walgreen's. However, I do believe marijuana does not pose the health risks of other drugs. Is it healthy? No, but people are always going to smoke marijuana. Plus, the money the government could make taxing it could be used to fight the war on drugs on a more world wide front. I would also increase border security with the newly found cannabis tax fund.
I realize the legalization and profit from marijuana seems counterproductive. The message we send out is "don't do drugs but keep smoking government weed". However, I'd rather see a nation of kids grow up being recreational marijuana users as opposed to having sex with drug dealers just so they can free base coke. Traffic portrays...
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