1Declaration: Free Markets, Free People, Free Minds

The War on Drugs has cost Americans billions of dollars since its inception in the 1970's, yet drug use remains high, perhaps higher, drugs keep getting into the country, and no signs of success have come to fruition.

Former supporter of the War on Drugs Bob Barr, Libertarian Presidential Nominee and former Georgia Congressman, has written an article in the Huffington Post. Here are a few excerpts from the story.

For more than three decades, the Libertarian Party and small “l” libertarians have done their part to prove to America that liberty is the answer to most of the problems that we face today. Over the past several years, I was one of the many people influenced by this small party.

Whether through the free market or by simply allowing families to make their own decisions regarding the education of their children, libertarians have taught us that liberty does truly work.

In stark contrast, when government attempts to solve our societal problems, it tends to create even more of them, often increasing the size and depth of the original problem. A perfect example of this is the federal War on Drugs.

Today, I can reflect on my efforts [as a federal prosecutor and HOR member] and see no progress in stopping the widespread use of drugs. I’ll even argue that America’s drug problem is larger today than it was when Richard Nixon first coined the phrase, “War on Drugs,” in 1972.

While it is clear the War on Drugs has been a failure, it is not enough to simply acknowledge that reality. We need to look for solutions that deal with the drug problem without costly and intrusive government agencies, and instead allow for private industry and organizations to put forward solutions that address the real problems.

One such solution was presented to me recently by a libertarian friend and supporter, Glenn Jacobs.

Glenn is a very unique guy with a very unique job. To say Glenn is a “big guy” or “intimidating” is an understatement. He gives people nightmares… literally.

Each week Glenn, who stands nearly seven feet tall, walks into a wrestling ring under the stage name “Kane” to beat other large men for sheer entertainment purposes.

[…]

It was speculated that Chris had murdered his family and committed suicide in a steroid or “roid” rage. While it is unclear how much of a role drugs played in Benoit’s actions, and whether mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) may also have been a contributing factor, it was clear the WWE had some serious problems within its organization.

In the wake of the tragedy, the head of the WWE, Vince McMahon, and its other leaders looked internally to recognize these problems and address them. Although in the two years before Benoit’s death, dozens of wrestlers had been suspended, gone to rehab, or been dismissed under the WWE’s recently adopted “Wellness Program,” the WWE strengthened its drug policy further, re-emphasizing that its policy wasn’t merely a document, but the internal laws of the company that would be enforced.

[…]

While there may be some employees of the organization who may not like random drug tests or being thrown on a treadmill for an EKG, they have the choice of finding a new employer.

That’s the beauty of this libertarian solution. It does not take government intervention or our tax dollars. It also does not force anyone to do anything, as it only requires voluntary action and decisions.