40 Years of Drug War Failure: LEAP's Neill Franklin

On June 17, 1971 President Richard Nixon launched the modern-day drug war, an effort perpetuated by every one of his successors.

As the reform group Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) documents in a new comprehensive study, the drug war has destroyed lives and property, shredded the constitution, and distorted American education, health care, and even foreign policy. That's why, notes LEAP, fully 75 percent of Americans and 69 percent of police chiefs agree that the drug war has failed.

Reason's Nick Gillespie talked with LEAP's Executive Director Neill Franklin, a retired major in the Maryland State Police. As Franklin explains, he was one of the most bellicose drug warriors around until a comrade was killed during an undercover operation. The best way, argues Franklin, we can pay tribute to his fallen friend - and all the other people whose lives have been laid waste by a war on drugs that has caused far more bad than good - is to turn away from prohibition and embrace regulation and control similar to that used for alcohol.

Shot by Jim Epstein and Joshua Swain, who also edited.

For more videos and information about drug policy, go to http://reason.com/archives/2011/06/15/the-price-of-prohibition

For more information on LEAP and to read "Ending the Drug War: A Dream Deferred," go to http://www.leap.cc/40years/

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[jjrglobal]

@ZM7241994

Nicotine is as addictive if not more addictive than any illegal drug, and it accounts for more deaths by far, but no one robs their families to support their cigarette habit. Why? Because cigarettes are not sold on the black market at inflated prices. If you make tobacco illegal tomorrow, a tobacco cartel complete with all the violence of a drug cartel will magically appear. Smokers will not quit smoking they will become outlaws. How can you NOT understand this?

[HamsterFueledRocket]

@UncleIrv You're missing the point. Even if we keep this drug war going forever, there will still be drug addicts stealing your shit. The government doesn't have a right to stop you from using any substance. That's it. End of discussion.

[TommyTurntables1]

Neill Franklin is a good cop.

[godlyginger]

@BRUMARTUBE well sed my man well sed

[godlyginger]

lol trying to under mine peoples intagrety and hurting peoples busness ones that put there familys in a house and giving them food if you try to take that frome people or try stealing from the there will be conciquesces trying to take peoples health will not be tolerated no 1 will stand for this and alot more fake ass cops will be killed and people trying to undermine others will be considered a thret on there busness and thay will act in violence for the saftey of there familys

[BRUMARTUBE]

You will not see any trace of any drug problems in the entire history of humanity until the war on drugs. The danger of drugs, if not the notion of drug itself, is a hoax. "Drug" are just arbitrary product made illegal so that it can be sold, untaxed, at expensive price, and directly to the kids. Prohibition is what makes the drugs "really" dangerous. It is pure criminal fear selling business. It makes rotten the very roots of democracy. Prohibitionism is a form of terrorism. Nothing less.

[xxDanielTM93xx]

@random69ism Let's not also forget those innocent people who weren't even interested in drugs! Those who have died and will die in the crossfires of the useless drug wars. Parents have had to bury sons and daughters because of this.

[random69ism]

@xxDanielTM93xx Hundreds of Billions of dollars wasted as well and dont forget all the lives destroyed by bs prison sentences for what is basically a medical problem.

[random69ism]

@Sasukequeen3 Because it stops the police state progression and government abuse of the people.

[random69ism]

@Sasukequeen3 Im calling bullshit.

[random69ism]

@HamsterFueledRocket Preach!

[binananda]

I just watched the video 'Thrive'..it is honest and obvious. cannabis prohibition is an excues to create and perpetuate police state measures.