How we might win the war on drugs

What does is cost to keep 7.2 million people in the criminal justice system?

About $45 billion. The Washington Post reports that nearly 1% (over 2 million) of all U.S. adults are currently in prison, with an addition 4.2 million on probation and 800,000 on parole. These numbers are all historic highs.

I recently saw a person get arrested in East Nashville for what appeared to be possession of drugs. If he was in fact a dealer, I'll be glad that he is off the street. However, I'm under no illusion that he won't be replaced within the week by another person equally willing to risk his life to make some quick cash.

The Democratic candidates were fond of saying that the war in Iraq requires a political rather than military solution. The same may be true of the war on drugs. We may need to transition from a strategy of shock and awe (more police, longer sentences) to a strategy of economic and social development (more teachers, longer school years, better health care).