Nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced. It is an open secret that the dangerous increase of crime in this country is closely connected with this.
Albert Einstein
(on US Prohibition)
Prohibition in the US
Prohibition has been tried before, and for many reasons it was judged not to have worked.
A resolution calling for an amendment to accomplish nationwide [in the US] Prohibition was introduced in Congress and passed by both houses in December 1917. By January 16, 1919, the Amendment had been ratified by thirty-six of the forty-eight states. On October 28, 1919, the amendment was implemented by the Volstead Act. Prohibition began on January 16, 1920, when the Eighteenth Amendment went into effect. A total of 1,520 Federal Prohibition agents (police) were given the task of enforcing the law.*
Prohibition of alcohol in the United States created a black market in the 1920s and early 1930s. A black market where alcohol was smuggled into the US and sold in speakeasies and private bars. The result of this was an era of organized crime, and an estimated 500 million US dollars lost in tax revenues annually.
One prime example of a black market created because of an illegal product was the result of prohibition. After alcohol was outlawed in the U.S. in 1919, it was smuggled into the country and sold at speakeasies and private bars. The result was an era of organized crime and an estimated 500 million US dollars (USD) in lost tax revenues annually.
Prohibition in Northern Ireland (and the rest of the UK)
Another black market that is in existence right now, is the one selling drugs that are classified as illegal in the United Kingdom [and most other countries as well]. As far as I can see, this does nothing to help those who are happy to use such substances. In fact, all it does is criminalize them (if caught).
During the month of November, the Police Service of Northern Ireland has spent quite considerable resources on policing drugs throughout Northern Ireland.
On November 7th, we were told that
A 44-year-old male has been charged with the cultivation of cannabis and other related offences and is expected to appear at Belfast Magistrates Court on Monday 8th November.
It is understood the charges relate to the discovery of approximately 450 cannabis plants, worth an estimated £225,000, from an unoccupied house in University Street area of south Belfast on Friday 5th November.
and six days later
A cannabis factory has been uncovered by E District’s Tactical Crime Team at a property at Brookvale Crescent in Aghory outside Craigavon.
60 cannabis plants with an estimated street value of around £30,000 were seized during Friday’s search operation.
During a follow-up search at Portmore Street in Portadown on Saturday morning (13th November) police arrested a 23-year-old man on suspicion of a number of drugs offences including cultivation, possession and possession with intent to supply.
And again on November 21st we were told:
Two men aged in their 20s have been charged with a number of drugs-related offences including supplying a class ‘B’ drug.
A woman aged in her 20s has been charged with possession and permitting her premises to be used for the use of a class ‘B’ drug.
A man aged in his 30s has been charged with a number of drugs-related offences including supplying a class ‘B’ drug.
All four are expected to appear at North Antrim Magistrates Court, Coleraine, on Monday.
As is normal procedure the charges are subject to review by the Public Prosecution Service.
The charges relate to planned searches in The Heights area of Coleraine, County Londonderry, by police from the local Crime Team.
On the evening of Friday 19 November, two men aged in their 20s and a woman aged in her 20s were arrested as a result of the search of a house at Greenmount Road.
Police seized a quantity of herbal cannabis and other items.
The same evening, a house at Kylemore Road was also searched. Herbal cannabis worth around £500 and other items were seized.
On the evening of Saturday 20 November, a house at Pates Lane was also searched and a male aged in his 30s arrested. A quantity of cannabis and associated items were seized.
Days of Austerity
The total estimated value of the drugs or cannabis plants seized was approximately £300,000. What would be interesting would be to know the cost to the taxpayer of policing drugs in Northern Ireland.
In these days of austerity, we have governments around the world looking for ways to cut public spending. As I said back in August, let’s do something radical. Let’s cut the spending on the War on Drugs which has been declared. In fact, let’s go further. Let’s declare the truth that the War on Drugs has been lost – and we were never going to win it.
An example from the US
I suggest that you watch a video which shows some of the facts are startling.
Let’s see some of those facts again
I am not arguing that drug use should be encouraged, merely that it ought not to be criminalised: to my mind there are many good reasons for this.
- to help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS
- to help prevent the crime that is used to pay for a drug habit
- to remove the ‘black market’ in drugs thereby ensuring that the best quality drugs are available to those who can pay for them
- to ensure that governments can tax legal drugs in the same way that they tax other products including tobacco and alcohol
Campaigning on the issue in number 1 above is particularly high at present following the XVIII International Aids Conference which was held in Vienna in July. The official declaration of that conference is called The Vienna Declaration and the text of it can be found here.
The continued War on Drugs means
- that far too many people throughout the world are unable to access sterile needles;
- there are too many people having HIV transmitted to them whilst they are in prisons for drug offences;
- that public health systems are undermined when law enforcement drives drug users away from prevention scheme
amongst many others.
It is time that the world stops the “War on Drugs” now. That is why I feel that it is important for as many people and organisations throughout the world to show their support for The Vienna Declaration by signing it online.
What you can do…
I hope that many individuals, organisations, political parties, and even Her Majesty’s Government will take the time to read and think about this issue more thoroughly and then the few seconds it takes to sign the declaration here.
I know that The HIV Support Centre, Northern Ireland’s leading HIV charity, has signed the declaration. Will you support it too?
Similar posts
time to call a halt on the war on drugs, Gyronny Herald, August 15, 2010
failure of cannabis prohibition – US government data demonstrates this, Gyronny Herald, October 7, 2010
Footnotes
* Prohibition in the United States, Wikipedia, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prohibition_in_the_United_States] accessed 4 December 2010.
This is post 250 on this blog – and one subject which I think is very important.
Related Articles
- Police chief’s call for cannabis rethink (guardian.co.uk)
- Up in smoke – prohibition of cannabis proves counter-productive (ephraiyim.wordpress.com)
- Why I Am a Mother Against Prohibition (socyberty.com)
Gyronny Herald 