So Much Time and Effort Has Been Spent Since 1969

Essay

So much time and effort has been spent since 1969 in the pursuit of the war on drugs that it is a very, very touchy subject in the police world. The overwhelming majority of police officers and administrators are committed "drug warriors." They accept America's drug laws and participate in the war willingly. On the other hand, not only are there a substantial number of citizens who are in favor of legalizing drugs, but a steadily increasing number of police officers, a "substantial minority," are as well. In the midst of this controversy, the American police officer must soldier on.
Write an essay about victimless crimes, focusing in particular upon drug laws. Discuss the classic elements of victimless crimes, which of course include huge profits, an ongoing demand, and official corruption. Discuss how this corruption is created by the fact that (1) so much money is involved and, at the same time, (2) often there are no specifically "victimized" citizens present at times of potential arrests. (In fact, drug dealers and police officers are usually the only people present, and the dealers want the police to take some payoff money and "just go away.") Include a discussion of these realities in your essay and include the debate about how legalizing drugs might lessen police corruption of authority. Finally, take your own stand on the issues involved. Where are you with regard to, say, the legalization of drugs-marijuana (in particular)?