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One of the most influential groups calling for the government to end the war on
drugs is an organization of law officers that have first hand experience of its
failures, according to The Albuquerque Tribune. The Law Enforcement Against Prohibition
(LEAP), a lobby group against the war on drugs, is gaining attention because it
has over 2,000 members that range from former police officers, and prosecutors
to judges. The group includes many high-ranking officials such as a previous New
York City police chief and Gary Johnson, a former Governor of New Mexico.
It is estimated that the government has spent over $500 billion on the war
against drugs, but members of LEAP all have first-hand experience and maintain
that current policies are having no effect. They argue that instead of sending
drug users or sellers to jail, the government should focus its resources on
treatment. Supply cannot be stopped in a free market, but demand can be reduced
through appropriate intervention.
Despite massive budgets and resources thrown at the problem LEAP members point
out that usage of methamphetamines is exploding throughout the country. Jack
Cole, the executive director of LEAP says, “This is not a war on drugs.
It's a war on people.” White House officials have accused LEAP of being
misguided and irresponsible.
