[Jeff Higgins]

I've seen numbers as high as 80% that are claimed to be in on non-violent drug related violations. Either possession, dealing, stealing to support a habit, or whatever. It is astonishing to think we could reduce our prison populations so dramatically by simply ending this silly "war on drugs".

Problem is, incarceration is big business here in America. As more and more states privatize their prison systems, more and more folks make money by maintaining a healthy customer base of inmates. That, and the "war on drugs" is a huge money-making enterprise. We spend billions every year fighting this "war". Combine these two influences, and we have a pretty damn unsavory money making machine at work.

Next to traffic laws, drug laws are the most often violated in this country. The "war" benefits no one other than the ones making money from it. When will the public wake up to the fact that we are spending billions every year to track down, arrest, prosecute, and incarcerate non-violent offenders who are filling up our prisons? These people need treatment, not incarceration. There is just not as much money in treatment, and it goes to different places. Those with their hands in the public's pocket are not going to give that up any time soon.