Abuse 1971 News Today

Towards drug users and sellers. >> its changing because after 40 years of total failure, its almost political suicide to stand up for the war on drugs anymore. you didnt hear the candidates talk about it in the election. they dont go near it. where pole tigs, as you see, used to live on it. they used to want to talk war on drugs all the time because they could be tough on crime. well, if tough on crime turns out to have been a costly disaster thats only hurting people and not, you know -- we hav...

Those who are not directly affected. >> sure. strangely, i would say its the largest human rights crisis we have here in the continental united states. you know, we have targeted a cross-section of our population, drug users most ochbt nonviolent people, and created out of them the worlds largest prison population. that tore up my heart. its something i saw happening particularly to black americans, and that really moved me to want to look more into it. >> some of us have been aware of the dispr...

>> yeah. i have not been paroled of three ounces of methamphetamine. >> how much is that? >> it would fit in a small envelope. if you had been busted for two prior drug charges, smoked pot, or having pot, or methamphetamine, whatever it is, and then you get a trafficking charge, they give you life without parole. its mandatory. life without parole. >> its that three strikes youre out deal, which is so shocking when you look at the disproportion alty of it. >> kevin is the changing face of the dr...

And the next great idea could be yours. ♪ . americas public enemy number one in the united states is drug abuse. >> 1971, president nixon launching the war on drugs. more than 40 years and $1 trillion later, 45 million arrests, 2.3 million prisoners, the u.s. has the worlds highest rate of drug abuse. weights going on here? the cost of the drug war both economic and human is the subject of a fascinating new documentary by award-winning director eugene derekki. the house i live in. painting a...