We are filling our prisons with people who are addicted at an enormous cost to taxpayers. This means that a generation of children is being raised whose parents are in prison. We know that once the cycle of incarceration begins, it is often carried on to the following generations. We are creating an atmosphere of hate in our society that is also affecting our children. When the news constantly has pictures of police and others dressed in military uniforms breaking down doors and shooting, our children get the message that violence and shooting are good things.
Children also get the message that it is all right to hate people who are poor and addicted.
Instead of sending this message of hate, we need to send a message of compassion, forgiveness, and healing. We are hurting people in other countries like Mexico and Colombia by supporting the often-corrupt militaries instead of helping those countries to develop alternative crops and stonger economies. Therefore, I have included some links to sites which give the arguments both for and against drug legalization. On one hand, I've seen the damage done by drug use. Drugs destroy families and lives.