How Would a Good Country Change its War on Drugs by Wiley Foxes

Honduras Blames Humanitarian Crisis on U.S. Drug Policy.  Is this just another way to say the War on Drugs is a seven decade flop?  No, it is not.  It is a statement that the drug policy besides being ineffective actually causes a great deal of harm in the world.  Most of Latin America would agree with the opinion that our drug war has made their life hell. 

But, do we really want to be a good country and do the right thing? We certainly have shown we don't care what pain and suffering our drug policies cause in Latin America.  But, how we handle the latest wave of suffering, the children fleeing drug violence, will determine if there is any hope for Americans being good people.  I am not hopeful.

If we cared, what could we do about the root cause of the violence: our War on Drugs? 

1. Legalize the growing, distribution and selling of pot which:
1.  reduces the revenue of the drug lords,
2. provides a relatively safe alternative to more dangerous street drugs.
3. provides tax revenue to address the drug problem. 
2. Decriminalize the use of all drugs.
3. Focus our efforts on stopping the selling of heroin, crack cocaine, prescription pain medicine, and other drugs that lead to addiction and death.
4. Use the tax money from Pot to:
1. Help our neighbors fight the drug cartels,
2. Provide sancutary and other humanitarian aid to those hurt by America's drug habit and ineffective drug policies.
3. Provide detox and recovery to all addicts who seek help.
4. Teach life skills such as stress managment and conflict resolution in our schools to our children. 
5. Make mental health care a national priority.

It is not complicated.  What would a good nation do if their actions and policies were hurting, even destroying the life of others?