Richard Nixon War On Drugs

When the “Red Hunter” Richard Nixon announced his “War on Drugs” in 1971, he paved the way for societal changes that would impact generations. Escalation by the Reagan administration, and continued enforcement by the federal government transformed the drug war into a multi-national criminal justice operation. With an annual cost of $51 million dollars, and a history of lobbying “tough on crime” politicians to pass strict drug laws, the war on drugs has lead to a rise in conflict home and abroad, a disproportionate amount of incarcerated minorities, and more drug usage in the United States. Because politicians and their crony campaign donors benefit from the war on drugs, the overall consensus in Washington is that of escalating the drug war.

In response, President Richard Nixon introduced a comprehensive plan to combat the rising trend. Creation of federal agencies and police forces, introduction of mandatory minimums into the court system, and notorious “no-knock warrants” all contributed to the anti-drug strategy that was the “War on Drugs.” The escalation of the War on Drugs only increased under the Reagan administration. Due to the anti-drug hysteria of the 80s, and Nancy Reagan's “Just Say No” anti-drug campaign. The Drug Policy Alliance reports that “the number of people behind bars for nonviolent drug law offenses increased from 50,000 in 1980 to over 400,000 by 1997” (“Brief History” 4, 7-8). Since the Federal Government’s crack-down of drug users in the 80s, the number of Americans arrested for nonviolent drug charges remains excessive. While some states have fully legalized certain drugs, and others have decriminalized them, the federal government has made no efforts to curb their “hard on drugs”

Howard Wooldridge, a prominent anti-drug campaigner and retired police officer, explained that police officers and prison guard unions seek funds from the federal government by supporting extreme drug war policies and laws. “Just because marijuana is illegal, doesn’t negate the fact that there’s still competition.” He further explained private prisons interests in drugs criminalization, “Private prisons fight me because they want more people in jail” (Lobbyists Profit 1, 2). It is true, police precincts receive federal grants due to their implementation of these drug war policies. Police unions, as a result, support and hire lobbyists for increased drug laws. Many police associations, including the California Police Chiefs Association, hired lobbyist John Lovell and his lobbying firm to fight for their cause. Lovell was paid over $380,000 from these groups to lobby against the legalization of marijuana. Their motives were clear, for the organizations had been attempting to receive a $7,537,389 grant from the Federal Government to orchestrate a “Campaign Against Marijuana Planting” program (Lobbyists Getting Rich of the War on Drugs 6, 9). Prison guard unions also support the laws; in part do to their pay by private prison companies. Hard on drugs