More than 70 percent of recent seizures of illegal drugs in the
United States are marijuana related, according to a new study, which
leads to questions about America’s war on drugs.
The study titled “Busted: Analyzing America’s Most Recent Drug Hauls,” analyzed major drug seizures as reported by more than 1,500 U.S. media outlets during a 13-month period, which ended in April.
The study found that of the 5,000 most recent drug busts reported in
the news, 70.5 percent involved mari
juana — 140 percent more than all cocaine (13 percent), heroin (10 percent) and methamphetamine (6 percent) busts combined. The study did not look at prescription medication abuse or other designer drugs, only the “big four,” which together account for 69% of the seized drugs analyzed by American forensic labs each year.
John Millward, the author of the study, admits that the report represents only a fraction of the total number of seizures made by the DEA, FBI, U.S. Customs Service and U.S. Border Patrol on a yearly basis, but because each of the busts were large enough to be reported in the news, the study provides “a fresh perspective on American’s war on drugs.”
“It’s the sheer volume of cannabis seizures that is a cause for concern,” Millward writes. ”What kind of concern depends on whether you feel marijuana laws are necessary or not.”
America’s attitudes towards cannabis have been reflected in progressive marijuana law reform over the past 25 years, with medical marijuana now allowed in over 20 states, criminal penalties for possession removed in 17 states, and the recreational use of marijuana by adults legalized in two states.
Source: The Daily Chronic
The study titled “Busted: Analyzing America’s Most Recent Drug Hauls,” analyzed major drug seizures as reported by more than 1,500 U.S. media outlets during a 13-month period, which ended in April.
The study found that of the 5,000 most recent drug busts reported in
the news, 70.5 percent involved marijuana — 140 percent more than all cocaine (13 percent), heroin (10 percent) and methamphetamine (6 percent) busts combined. The study did not look at prescription medication abuse or other designer drugs, only the “big four,” which together account for 69% of the seized drugs analyzed by American forensic labs each year.
John Millward, the author of the study, admits that the report represents only a fraction of the total number of seizures made by the DEA, FBI, U.S. Customs Service and U.S. Border Patrol on a yearly basis, but because each of the busts were large enough to be reported in the news, the study provides “a fresh perspective on American’s war on drugs.”
“It’s the sheer volume of cannabis seizures that is a cause for concern,” Millward writes. ”What kind of concern depends on whether you feel marijuana laws are necessary or not.”
America’s attitudes towards cannabis have been reflected in progressive marijuana law reform over the past 25 years, with medical marijuana now allowed in over 20 states, criminal penalties for possession removed in 17 states, and the recreational use of marijuana by adults legalized in two states.
Source: The Daily Chronic
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