While all eyes were on the US administration’s latest attempt to block people from six predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States, many may have missed Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ alarming remarks on the US “war on drugs.”
In a speech before law enforcement leaders Wednesday, Sessions clearly articulated his prohibitionist views on personal drug use, stating that marijuana is only “slightly less awful” than heroin and that “using drugs will destroy your life.” While briefly mentioning the importance of treatment and prevention programs, Sessions made clear that he plans to significantly ramp up federal enforcement of drug laws, and that he opposes the experiments that many states have started with legalization and regulation of marijuana.
We know from experience that this approach and has done little to reduce problematic drug use, which has remained high for decades. Instead, it has done tremendous harm, resulting in massive numbers of people being locked up or deported for low-level offenses in the US.
|
Dispatches
A Return to the Failed ‘War on Drugs’ in the US?
Revolving Door of Prison Will Not Solve Problematic Drug Use
Your tax deductible gift can help stop human rights violations and save lives around the world.
Region / Country
Most Viewed
-
November 25, 2019
A Dirty Investment
-
October 29, 2020
“I Sleep in My Own Deathbed”
-
April 27, 2021
A Threshold Crossed
-
June 21, 2017
“Just Let Us Be”
-
April 9, 2024
Gaza: Israel’s Imposed Starvation Deadly for Children