New FBI Numbers Reveal Failure of "War on Drugs"
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A new FBI report released today shows that there is a drug arrest every 19 seconds in the U.S. A group of police and judges who have been campaigning to legalize and regulate drugs pointed to the figures showing more than 1.6 million drug arrests in 2010 as evidence that the "war on drugs" is a failure that can never be won.
"Since the declaration of the 'war on drugs' 40 years ago we've arrested tens of millions of people in an effort to reduce drug use. The fact that cops had to spend time arresting another 1.6 million of our fellow citizens last year shows that it simply hasn't worked. In the current economy we simply cannot afford to keep arresting three people every minute in the failed 'war on drugs,'" said Neill Franklin, a retired Baltimore narcotics cop who now heads the group Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP). "If we legalized and taxed drugs, we could not only create new revenue in addition to the money we'd save from ending the cruel policy of arresting users, but we'd make society safer by bankrupting the cartels and gangs who control the currently illegal marketplace."
Today's FBI report, which can be found at http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2010/crime-in-the-u.s.-2010, shows that 81.9 percent of all drug arrests in 2010 were for possession only, and 45.8 percent of all drug arrests were for possession of marijuana.
A separate Department of Justice report released last month shows that Mexican drug cartels are currently operating in more than 1,000 U.S. cities, whereas two years ago they were in 230 U.S. cities. Meanwhile, a new U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report released earlier this month shows that nearly one in 10 Americans admit to regularly using illegal drugs.
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) represents police, prosecutors, judges, FBI/DEA agents and others who want to legalize and regulate drugs after fighting on the front lines of the "war on drugs" and learning firsthand that prohibition only serves to worsen addiction and violence. More info at http://www.CopsSayLegalizeDrugs.com.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 19, 2011
CONTACT: Tom Angell - (202) 557-4979 or media@leap.cc
Showing posts with label FBI. Show all posts
Showing posts with label FBI. Show all posts
Monday, September 19, 2011
Monday, May 10, 2010
Press Release: DEA's Senate Testimony Shows Legalizing Marijuana Would Hurt Cartels
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 10, 2010
CONTACT: Tom Angell - (202) 557-4979 or media//at//leap//dot//cc
DEA's Senate Testimony Shows Legalizing Marijuana Would Hurt Cartels
Pro-Legalization Police Group Supports California Ballot Measure
WASHINGTON, DC -- A group of police officers, judges and prosecutors who support legalizing marijuana is pointing to new congressional testimony from the FBI and DEA as evidence that the government's marijuana prohibition policy actually helps -- not hurts -- drug cartels.
Appearing before the U.S. Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, representatives for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration testified last Wednesday that "marijuana is the top revenue generator for Mexican [cartels]—a cash crop that finances corruption and the carnage of violence year after year. The profits derived from marijuana trafficking—an industry with minimal overhead costs, controlled entirely by the traffickers—are used not only to finance other drug enterprises by Mexico’s poly-drug cartels, but also to pay recurring 'business' expenses, purchase weapons, and bribe corrupt officials."
The pro-legalization police group, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), believes that if California voters approve the marijuana legalization initiative on this November's ballot the Mexican drug cartels will lose a huge source of revenue.
"By legalizing, regulating and taxing marijuana, California voters can ensure that the Mexican drug cartels who control the currently-illegal market will no longer be able to fund a bloody drug war with profits from marijuana sales to Californians," said Russ Jones, a LEAP speaker and former San Jose narcotics detective who is just one of dozens of California law enforcers actively supporting the initiative. "As a cop, I saw how prohibition doesn't prevent anyone from using marijuana but instead allows murderous gangsters and thugs to collect huge riches, just like during alcohol prohibition. It's time to put these criminals out of business with legalization and control."
The full FBI/DEA testimony can be read at http://www.fbi.gov/congress/congress10/perkins050510.htm.
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) is an international organization representing police, prosecutors, judges, FBI/DEA agents and others who want to legalize and regulate drugs after fighting on the front lines of the "war on drugs" and learning firsthand that prohibition only serves to worsen addiction and violence. More info at http://www.CopsSayLegalizeDrugs.com.
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CONTACT: Tom Angell - (202) 557-4979 or media//at//leap//dot//cc
DEA's Senate Testimony Shows Legalizing Marijuana Would Hurt Cartels
Pro-Legalization Police Group Supports California Ballot Measure
WASHINGTON, DC -- A group of police officers, judges and prosecutors who support legalizing marijuana is pointing to new congressional testimony from the FBI and DEA as evidence that the government's marijuana prohibition policy actually helps -- not hurts -- drug cartels.
Appearing before the U.S. Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, representatives for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration testified last Wednesday that "marijuana is the top revenue generator for Mexican [cartels]—a cash crop that finances corruption and the carnage of violence year after year. The profits derived from marijuana trafficking—an industry with minimal overhead costs, controlled entirely by the traffickers—are used not only to finance other drug enterprises by Mexico’s poly-drug cartels, but also to pay recurring 'business' expenses, purchase weapons, and bribe corrupt officials."
The pro-legalization police group, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), believes that if California voters approve the marijuana legalization initiative on this November's ballot the Mexican drug cartels will lose a huge source of revenue.
"By legalizing, regulating and taxing marijuana, California voters can ensure that the Mexican drug cartels who control the currently-illegal market will no longer be able to fund a bloody drug war with profits from marijuana sales to Californians," said Russ Jones, a LEAP speaker and former San Jose narcotics detective who is just one of dozens of California law enforcers actively supporting the initiative. "As a cop, I saw how prohibition doesn't prevent anyone from using marijuana but instead allows murderous gangsters and thugs to collect huge riches, just like during alcohol prohibition. It's time to put these criminals out of business with legalization and control."
The full FBI/DEA testimony can be read at http://www.fbi.gov/congress/congress10/perkins050510.htm.
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) is an international organization representing police, prosecutors, judges, FBI/DEA agents and others who want to legalize and regulate drugs after fighting on the front lines of the "war on drugs" and learning firsthand that prohibition only serves to worsen addiction and violence. More info at http://www.CopsSayLegalizeDrugs.com.
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Monday, September 14, 2009
ONE DRUG ARREST EVERY 18 SECONDS IN THE U.S.
NEW FBI NUMBERS SHOW FAILURE OF "WAR ON DRUGS"
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A group of police and judges who want to legalize drugs pointed to new FBI numbers released today as evidence that the "war on drugs" is a failure that can never be won. The data, from the FBI's "Crime in the United States" report, shows that in 2008 there were 1,702,537 arrests for drug law violations, or one drug arrest every 18 seconds.
"In our current economic climate, we simply cannot afford to keep arresting more than three people every minute in the failed 'war on drugs,'" said Jack Cole, a retired undercover narcotics detective who now heads the group Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP). "Plus, if we legalized and taxed drug sales, we could actually create new revenue in addition to the money we'd save from ending the cruel policy of arresting users."
Last December, LEAP commissioned a report by a Harvard University economist which found that legalizing and regulating drugs would inject $77 billion a year into the struggling U.S. economy.
Today's FBI report, which can be found at http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2008/arrests/index.html, shows that 82.3 percent of all drug arrests in 2008 were for possession only, and 44.3 percent of drug arrests were for possession of marijuana.
Pointing to the collateral consequences that often follow drug arrests, LEAP's Cole continued, "You can get over an addiction, but you will never get over a conviction."
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) is a 13,000-member organization representing cops, judges, prosecutors, prison wardens and others who now want to legalize and regulate all drugs after witnessing horrors and injustices fighting on the front lines of the "war on drugs."
More info online at http://www.CopsSayLegalizeDrugs.com.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 14, 2009
CONTACT: Tom Angell - (202) 557-4979 or media@leap.cc
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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A group of police and judges who want to legalize drugs pointed to new FBI numbers released today as evidence that the "war on drugs" is a failure that can never be won. The data, from the FBI's "Crime in the United States" report, shows that in 2008 there were 1,702,537 arrests for drug law violations, or one drug arrest every 18 seconds.
"In our current economic climate, we simply cannot afford to keep arresting more than three people every minute in the failed 'war on drugs,'" said Jack Cole, a retired undercover narcotics detective who now heads the group Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP). "Plus, if we legalized and taxed drug sales, we could actually create new revenue in addition to the money we'd save from ending the cruel policy of arresting users."
Last December, LEAP commissioned a report by a Harvard University economist which found that legalizing and regulating drugs would inject $77 billion a year into the struggling U.S. economy.
Today's FBI report, which can be found at http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2008/arrests/index.html, shows that 82.3 percent of all drug arrests in 2008 were for possession only, and 44.3 percent of drug arrests were for possession of marijuana.
Pointing to the collateral consequences that often follow drug arrests, LEAP's Cole continued, "You can get over an addiction, but you will never get over a conviction."
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) is a 13,000-member organization representing cops, judges, prosecutors, prison wardens and others who now want to legalize and regulate all drugs after witnessing horrors and injustices fighting on the front lines of the "war on drugs."
More info online at http://www.CopsSayLegalizeDrugs.com.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 14, 2009
CONTACT: Tom Angell - (202) 557-4979 or media@leap.cc
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