What Constitutes as a Drug?
The war on drugs was put in to place because of its image to create youth rebellion, social change, and political dissent. The first law against drugs in the United States was too outlawing smocking of opium. The reason for this was that Chinese men were thought to be using it to bring in white women and in a Chinese habit in general. The laws and polices against cocaine share a similar racist beliefs or ideals, as it was associated with Black people. The rights of both legitimate suspects and average citizen are being violated. Violent activities were connected to social behavior of African American people. This was stamped into action by the passing of the Harrison Tax act, which outlawed both opium and cocaine. The Mexican population present at the time was in association with marijuana because of the so-called lawlessness that was down by the southwest border. This drug supposedly would give Mexicans greater strength and lose fear, which is absurd. As years pass, the punishment and consequences only become exceedingly harsher and more expensive. The government and political figures have controlled this system from the beginning of the war on drugs.
President Nixon, the man who declared this policy went to the extreme levels to restrict and get rid of drugs like this. He believed that it was a national emergency and that drug abuse was “public enemy number one.” He declared the war on drugs on July 17th 1971 asking for 84 million dollars of initial funding. With declaring the war on drugs, surprisingly marijuana was considered a schedule one drug. During Jimmy Carter’s presidency he pushed for the decriminalization of marijuana knowing that they should spend more time and money putting away more dangerous drug abusers and traffickers. As time went on the government began to change their opinions on marijuana and did not like the fact that teenagers were getting their hands on it. The government wanted to protect the youth of America, and in turn cracked down on marijuana users and sellers. Recently Jimmy Carter wrote in the New York Times that the “excessive punishment” has destroyed the lives of millions of young people and their families. Another former president, Ronald Regan, was also had an impact with the war on drugs by increasing the rates of convicted drug users incarcerated. The number of people incarcerated from these nonviolent drug law offense increased from 50,000 to 500,000 in 20 years and continues to grow.
Statistics show that in a 25-year span, the proportion of blacks in prison has increased by 25 percent but the amount of blacks arrested for violent crimes dropped by 20. Both of these show a flaw in the system that needs to change because we are clearly getting the wrong people. From 1986 to 1991, the number of white drug offenders finally went up and by 110 %. On the other side black offenders incarceration rate grew by 465 %. The fact that there are such extreme numbers and data from archives supporting this concept without any result is wrong. The government and political figures have made a faulty image for many drugs too keep everything just how they want it. Working with systems or along the same guidelines as the Drug Policy Alliance, we can expose disproportionate arrest rates and try to take down the system that keeps them in place.
Schedules of Drugs
Schedule I
These are the most dangerous drugs and are currently illegal. These drugs also have a high potential for both psychological and physical abuse. A few popular Schedule I drugs are: Marijuana, LSD, Heroin, and Ecstasy
Schedule II
Schedule II drugs are also considered very dangerous but considered slightly less dangerous than schedule II. These are considered slightly less dangerous than schedule I. Some popular Schedule II drugs are: Cocaine, Oxycotin, Hydrocodone, and Adderall
Schedule III
Schedule III drugs are considered to have moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. (slightly lower than schedule 2) Some popular Schedule III drugs are: Codeine, Testosterone and Ketamine
Schedule IV and Schedule V
Schedule IV and V drugs are at the bottom of the list in terms of potential for abuse and danger. Some of the most popular Schedule IV and Schedule V drugs are: Ambien, Vallum, Xanax, and Somas.
The schedules decrease in potential for abuse as Schedule I being the most dangerous and Schedule V being the least dangerous. The determinate factor the decides what schedule the drugs falls under is purely based on rates of abuse. Chemical make up is not a factor in determining what schedule it is, it is solely based off of how it affects society.
The war on drugs was put in to place because of its image to create youth rebellion, social change, and political dissent. The first law against drugs in the United States was too outlawing smocking of opium. The reason for this was that Chinese men were thought to be using it to bring in white women and in a Chinese habit in general. The laws and polices against cocaine share a similar racist beliefs or ideals, as it was associated with Black people. The rights of both legitimate suspects and average citizen are being violated. Violent activities were connected to social behavior of African American people. This was stamped into action by the passing of the Harrison Tax act, which outlawed both opium and cocaine. The Mexican population present at the time was in association with marijuana because of the so-called lawlessness that was down by the southwest border. This drug supposedly would give Mexicans greater strength and lose fear, which is absurd. As years pass, the punishment and consequences only become exceedingly harsher and more expensive. The government and political figures have controlled this system from the beginning of the war on drugs.
President Nixon, the man who declared this policy went to the extreme levels to restrict and get rid of drugs like this. He believed that it was a national emergency and that drug abuse was “public enemy number one.” He declared the war on drugs on July 17th 1971 asking for 84 million dollars of initial funding. With declaring the war on drugs, surprisingly marijuana was considered a schedule one drug. During Jimmy Carter’s presidency he pushed for the decriminalization of marijuana knowing that they should spend more time and money putting away more dangerous drug abusers and traffickers. As time went on the government began to change their opinions on marijuana and did not like the fact that teenagers were getting their hands on it. The government wanted to protect the youth of America, and in turn cracked down on marijuana users and sellers. Recently Jimmy Carter wrote in the New York Times that the “excessive punishment” has destroyed the lives of millions of young people and their families. Another former president, Ronald Regan, was also had an impact with the war on drugs by increasing the rates of convicted drug users incarcerated. The number of people incarcerated from these nonviolent drug law offense increased from 50,000 to 500,000 in 20 years and continues to grow.
Statistics show that in a 25-year span, the proportion of blacks in prison has increased by 25 percent but the amount of blacks arrested for violent crimes dropped by 20. Both of these show a flaw in the system that needs to change because we are clearly getting the wrong people. From 1986 to 1991, the number of white drug offenders finally went up and by 110 %. On the other side black offenders incarceration rate grew by 465 %. The fact that there are such extreme numbers and data from archives supporting this concept without any result is wrong. The government and political figures have made a faulty image for many drugs too keep everything just how they want it. Working with systems or along the same guidelines as the Drug Policy Alliance, we can expose disproportionate arrest rates and try to take down the system that keeps them in place.
Schedules of Drugs
Schedule I
These are the most dangerous drugs and are currently illegal. These drugs also have a high potential for both psychological and physical abuse. A few popular Schedule I drugs are: Marijuana, LSD, Heroin, and Ecstasy
Schedule II
Schedule II drugs are also considered very dangerous but considered slightly less dangerous than schedule II. These are considered slightly less dangerous than schedule I. Some popular Schedule II drugs are: Cocaine, Oxycotin, Hydrocodone, and Adderall
Schedule III
Schedule III drugs are considered to have moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. (slightly lower than schedule 2) Some popular Schedule III drugs are: Codeine, Testosterone and Ketamine
Schedule IV and Schedule V
Schedule IV and V drugs are at the bottom of the list in terms of potential for abuse and danger. Some of the most popular Schedule IV and Schedule V drugs are: Ambien, Vallum, Xanax, and Somas.
The schedules decrease in potential for abuse as Schedule I being the most dangerous and Schedule V being the least dangerous. The determinate factor the decides what schedule the drugs falls under is purely based on rates of abuse. Chemical make up is not a factor in determining what schedule it is, it is solely based off of how it affects society.