How much $$ has been spent on the "War on drugs?"

[captainjack]

billions?trillions? have we gotten anywhere?

[bonddad]

1. Did a paper of this for school

First, it depends on how you look at what is involved.

I just used two examples -- the Federal Prisons budget and the DEA. Since the late 1980s, both have increased about 500%.

[AlamoDemoc]

5. I don't know how much money we're spending on healthcare....

but, I know that we are spending one Billion dollars a week in Iraq

[K-W]

2. Enough money to give treatment to anyone who would ever need it.

If there werent prohibition.

[Robbie67]

3. It's nearly $30B annually at this point

That's Federal money...when you add in state and local, it will probably end up at $50B this year nationwide.

That's just this year. And, no, nothing is being accomplished, except for building up the prison-industrial complex.

[Wapsie B]

4. We haven't gotten anywhere at all.

The $$ we're giving the DEA is going down a rat-hole.
DARE programs are ineffective. The $$ gotten from drug raids and asset seizures is hidden from the public.

[aquart]

6. My momma says legalize and so do I.

Take the profit out of it. Force the CIA to budget.

[AlamoDemoc]

8. The question was "How much $$ has been spent on the War on drugs?

not only have we spent money to the Colombians to fight against "war on drugs", but we invested billions and billions of dollars training, and helping the Columbian army...while we provided money and political cover-up for who wanted to install in office in Columbia

[ranosgol]

7. Do not forget Military dollars.

I was in the Navy. I went on two drug operations one lasting 4 months another one month. Both ships where originally designed for cold war but used in conjunction with coast guard to fight drugs.

It really is a joke..let me tell you why and how.

Here is a good example.

You can not intercept a ship unless it is in international waters.

If you are in international waters and you want to board a ship, you call over and ask if you can board.

If the ship refuses you find out who or what company the ship belongs too.

If the owners refuse you must ask the country the ship is registered or flagged.

If the country refuses you cannot board.

Of course any American flagged ships suspected of drugs get boarded right away.

Yes there are some success stories but few in between.

I spent a total of about 6 months on drug duty and we caught no one and spent millions in the process.

[K-W]

9. They are accomplishing what they want to accomplish.

Locking up minorities and other alienated people. Keeping a constant flow of money in the blackmarket. Keeping people reliant on pharmacutical companies for psychoactives. Keeping the tap flowing to the many corporations who have cashed in, especially the prison industry. And being tough on drugs is always a favorite of politicians. And you cant be tough on something after you eliminate it.