While the U.S. deficit approaches $1 trillion, many states and local communities also face major budgetary shortfalls. Yet, despite the economic crisis, your tax dollars continue to fund drug war costs like these:

$40 billion for the drug war.

"Despite a $40 billion-a-year 'war on drugs' and political speeches about a 'drug-free society,' our society is swimming in drugs: cigarettes, sugar, alcohol, marijuana, Prozac, Ritalin, Viagra, steroids and caffeine." http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n913/a03.html

$700 million to build prisons in just one state; $100 Million per year to run them.

"[The state prison in Scotland County, North Carolina] is one of six that state lawmakers have approved since 2001 to address a dire need for prison space, and they are already being expanded. When complete, the construction and expansions at all six facilities will have cost more than $700 million and operating costs will top $100 million annually." http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n702/a11.html

$400 million more to Mexico.

"This past June [2008], Bush struck a deal with Calderon to approve $400 million toward additional drug war assistance (representing a 20% increase in the Mexican anti-narcotics budget) -- for still more helicopters, military training, ion scanners, canine units, and surveillance technology." http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n940/a04.html

$225 million for regional anti-drug efforts.

"It [High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program] is one of 28 similar efforts nationwide, with the federal government spending about $225 million annually to coordinate federal, state and local law-enforcement campaigns." http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n1082/a02.html

$702,969 to prosecute drug offenses in just one U.S. county.

"Lake County [Illinois] will spend $702,969 prosecuting drug offenses this year . Except for an estimated $30,000 in revenue from asset forfeitures, county taxpayers absorb the difference." http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n793/a06.html

$178,290 for drug testing in just one school district.

"A $178,290 drug prevention grant means 5,900 drug tests for the Victoria [Texas] school district." http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n712/a01.html

$615,000 for all kinds of things.

"[Sheriff] Smith Used $615,000 in Federal [forfeiture] funds for Tuition, a Lease, Private Lawyer and More .. $14,400 on employee training and associated travel . a 28-foot boat . $100,000 for a scholarship at Georgia State University . About $9,000 to help a boxing club owner pay her lease . $4,000 in retainer fees for Brunswick lawyer." http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n654/a13.html

$60,000 for just one police force to buy drugs.

"Estimating controlled drug buys for the average local case run his task force $200, Centeno figured his officers spend at least $60,000 a year just to purchase the drugs they need to seal the average of 300 cases." http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n526/a01.html

"By legalising drugs we can apply the same controls to their production, distribution and consumption as we apply to alcohol and tobacco. And there's a triple bonus to society: spending on crime prevention will plunge, not just on drug-related policing but on all the criminality arising from the activities of drug-financed gangs; crime levels overall will plunge; and the government becomes a net recipient of monies from drug consumption rather than a net spender via law enforcement. Harvard economist Jeffrey Miron estimates that the United States spends $44 billion a year fighting the war on drugs. If they were legal, the US government would realise about $33 billion a year in tax revenue - a net swing of $77 billion." http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n388/a07.html

If you think that your tax dollars can be better spent, then you know it's time to change drug policy.

Get involved. Write. Join. Donate.

Mark Greer
Executive Director

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