Marijuana legalization would end the futile and perpetual war on drugs in the United States that wastes $2.4 billion each year.
By Michael Komorn
Retired Cincinnati police captain and former drug counselor, Howard Rahtz, holds a different perspective on America’s futile and perpetual war against drugs than your average law enforcer.
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He believes it’s an ineffective waste of money that enhances black market drug dealing profits and has no impact on use. Rahtz is joining state Rep. Tom McMillion, R-Rochester, for a public town hall discussion on the topic at 7 p.m. Monday in the Rochester Hills Public Library, 500 Olde Towne.
“We have poured a tremendous amount of effort and money into the war on drugs during the past four decades, diverting resources that likely could have been better used toward preventing violent crimes,” McMillin said. “We have to ask ourselves: Is this a good return on our investment? Are our efforts having any impact?”
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Dan Korobkin, a staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union will also be joining McMillin, along with Chad Padgett of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, an expert in youth corrections formerly with the Indiana Department of Correction.
Rahtz is a member of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, a group of 5,000 law enforcers who believe the current “war on drugs” is a detriment to public safety.
“The War on Drugs is basically a subsidization program for organized crime,” Rahtz said in a prepared statement. “State governments spend millions on law enforcement only to make selling drugs that much more profitable and ensure a wide range of people, including those who would sell to children and violently defend their market share, are interested in the job.”
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The U.S. Department of Justice’s Drug Enforcement Agency is the largest of its type in the world, and employs more than 10,000 at a cost of nearly $2.4 billion annually.
Rahtz claims that money spent on operations like the DEA, as well as state and local drug task forces, is unwarranted in these frugal financial times for governments throughout the United States.
The Drug Policy Alliance is an organization that calls for drug law reforms and an increased focus on treatment and prevention; they estimate that taxpayers pay $51 billion annually between national, state and local drug enforcement and jailing of violators. Marijuana legalization is the obvious solution to a nation that continues to take on water in an effort to stay afloat.
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“The national drug control budget for fiscal year 2012 allocated $25.2 billion to reduce drug use and its consequences in the United States. The Federal Bureau of Prison Systems reports that 47.2 percent of all its inmates are behind bars for drug-related offenses,” McMillin said. “Is this ‘war on drugs’ still worth fighting?”
Rahtz served the shield as a Cincinnati police officer for 18 years, was a SWAT negotiator; was a captain on the vice squad and previously managed a methadone treatment clinic.
If you or someone you know is facing charges as a result of Medical Marijuana prescribed to you as a Medical Marijuana patient under the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act, contact Komorn Law and ensure your rights are protected.
Michael Komorn is recognized as a leading expert on the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act. He is the President of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Association (MMMA), a nonprofit patient advocacy group with over 26,000 members, which advocates for medical marijuana patients, and caregiver rights. Michael is also the host of Planet Green Trees Radio, a marijuana reform based show, which is broadcast every Thursday night 8-10 pm EST. Follow Komorn on Twitter.
Read more: http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2013/06/ex-policeman_to_call_for_drug.html
