Finally an admission of wrong that has lasted for 80 years.

http://www.npr.org/2011/06/02/136880386/report-the-drug-war-has-failed
How many years have people in this country known this is an industry? Starting with Harry Anslinger - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJMeTR227h8 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXU0a9FdF4w&playnext=1&list=PL20AB76A8E8EACF4D , and Continuing through Nixon - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v48nbb8bJcw - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsrxpVUKUK0&feature=related , Reagan - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNwJpgdUUXY&feature=related, and the last few Presidents - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZB_wXJCBCU who have sat on their hands, while we have seen this war come and go with no good outcome for the American people in sight. All while we watched this possible tax windfall turn into a tax sinkhole by way of supporting the overburdened judicial system with cases against casual users and the incarcerations that followed.
First, all of the above people were buffoons, and only continued this "War" because of the addition to the military industrial complex it created. In other words, there was money to be made and given. Beside, who cares in this country if the victim of you failed laws are poor people? Do we owe them anything? Can we say we even owe them fair laws as set forth in the Constitution of the United States? The vast and overwhelming majority of people locked in our prison system for drug crimes are poor and or of racial minority. The United States is the biggest waster of Tax payer funds, Military and police forces, and intelligence time and effort in this failed war. Why? Because it has created a whole industry on both sides of the issue. There is an industry for finding, prosecuting, and locking up individuals who have done nothing more than purchase a small amount of a drug for personal use. Then, there is also the industry created by allowing a "Black Market" to control supply of drugs to a nation or area. Money to be made on both sides of the issue, and as we the people of this great nation have seen, it is nearly impossible to get any politician or person in our nation to give up one red cent unless he knows another or 10 are going to replace it in the near future.

Let's visit a few of the arguments:
1) If decriminalized, drugs would become out of control. Well, roughly the same percentage of people who used alcohol pre-prohibition still use alcohol today even though it has been legal for many years. In other words, those who want to do the drugs, are going to do the drugs and already are regardless of policy or policing.
2) It would increase medical problems. Well, that can be argued as well. Marijuana is only number 2 in study and comparison to tobacco in this nation. None of the studies have reported any increase in death, medical issues, or troubles of any sort accept for the most abusive user. Those numbers fail in comparison to the amount of money and family issues the abuse of alcohol in this nation have brought on the general public.
3) Again, most States are ahead of the Federal Government and see lifting the outright ban on substances, especially Marijuana can be useful for law enforcement as well as profitable for the State by way of taxes and other revenue paid for the growth, sale, distribution of licenses, paraphernalia and equipment to run operations.

Folks, the country will not fall apart. Most of you closet smokers should step out of the shadows and join the fight. This one could make for a lesser police state than we promote now, more tax revenue for public use, and an overall sense of freedom that may come back to these United States. I look forward to comments.