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“Is it time to End The War on Drugs?”
Presented by Paul Kaplan

Since its inception in 1971, the War on Drugs has been an immense failure by every measure. Illegal drug usage, overdoses, and drug-related crime are all at all time highs. Prisons are filled with people who only crimes are the possession and usage of illegal drugs. Is it time to end the War on Drugs and try something else?

Questions to Consider

1)     Why is the War on Drugs such a colossal failure? To what extent is it a failure to heed basic economics?

2)     What lessons should have been learned from Prohibition?

3)     Many people use legal psychotropic drugs. Is there meaningful distinction between these drugs and illegal drugs?

4)     Has racism been as aspect of the War on Drugs, with the notion that a certain group people use certain drugs?

5)     Studies have shown that person’s environment and addiction. What can be done to move people with addictions to supportive environments?

6)     What can be done to take away the stigma that people who use drugs face?

7)     What can be done to reduce the risk and harm of using drugs? (Needle exchange centres, safe consumption sites, etc.)

8)     What has been Canada’s experience with legalization of cannabis?

9)     Should all drugs be legalized and subject to testing, regulation, and taxation?

10)  What has been the experience of countries that have decriminalized all drugs?

11)  Is there a humanist respond to the War on Drugs?