The war on drugs is not really a war and not against drugs. It is a conflict against drug users and dealers. It is prohibition of some drugs. And like the prohibition of alcohol it has been a huge failure.
The answer is to legalize or decriminalize and regulate all drugs. Most drugs are already legal and regulated. Alcohol for example is legal and causes more harm than marijuana or heroin. Hundreds of potentially dangerous drugs are legal and sold in pharmacies.
The crime associated with illegal drugs are a result of the drugs being made, sold and distributed by criminals. Making them all legal will eliminate the criminal element. Just like making alcohol legal again in 1930 ended the era of gangsters like Al Capone. And when alcohol was legalized the whole population did not become alcoholics. Most people will never become alcoholics or drug addicts no matter whether they are all legal or illegal.
There are so many reasons to end this terrible policy. Many people are agreeing with this idea now and it is time to do it.
In February 2017 in British Columbia 102 people died from drug overdoses. Nobody died from drinking illegal alcohol because alcohol production and sale is legal and regulated by the government. The difference is that the drugs are illegal and consequently sold and distributed by criminals who don’t care if people die. Does this make any sense? What earthly purpose does keeping these drugs illegal serve?
In Switzerland in February 2017 no one died from overdose of heroin. Switzerland has a population of 8 million. B.C. has a population of 2 million. What is the difference? 102 deaths to zero? Switzerland has a smart sensible and humane approach to these drugs. They regulate and control them. Instead of letting the criminals do it.