We waste a lot of money fighting the drug trade in the U.S. What do we have to show for it? Over-crowded jails, bloated law enforcement budgets devoted to fighting drug use instead of helping the user fight the habit, a criminal underworld that is profitting from drug traffic and an ever increasing crime rate surrounding drug trafficking.

This issue needs to be seriously addressed and changes need to be made, because what we are doing is NOT WORKING.

For what other health issues do we use police, prosecutors, and prisons as the primary means of 'helping' a sick person? Isn't that just as silly as using a baseball bat to cure someone of clinical depression? (Smile and get happy or I'll whack you again)

@spirithiker I agree with you and it is an international issue.At least the CIA is not flying them around asia like in Vietnam era but double standards are nothing new for spooks.I guess the deals with northern Afghan war lords pre Talibans removal never included opium production.