Question
4 of 64 of 6 Items Feature The War on Drugs The War on Drugs dates back to 1971 when President Richard M. Nixon declared drugs to be “public enemy number one.” The Nixon administration increased the size and number of drug-control agencies and passed laws requiring mandatory sentencing and no-knock search warrants, but by 1977, 11 states had decriminalized marijuana possession and the Senate Judiciary Committee had similarly voted to decriminalize possession of up to one ounce of marajuana for personal use. By the 1980s, public opinion about drug use was once again shifting as the number of teen drug users grew. Federal and state laws were changed to require stiffer penalties and, as a result, there was a dramatic rise in the number of people sent to prison for drug possession. As laws related to drug abuse became more rigid, the number of syringe-access and other harm-reduction programs that could reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS diminished. In October 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed the AntiDrug Abuse Act, allocating $1.7 billion to fight the war on drugs. The bill created mandatory minimum penalties for drug offenses, which ended up promoting racial disparity in prisons since the sentences for possession of crack cocaine—typically cheaper and more often used by minorities with lower income levels—were harsher than the sentences for possession of powder cocaine. After George W. Bush became president in 2001, even more money was allocated to fight the war on drugs. Yet illegal drug use remained steady, and the overall number of deaths attributed to drug overdoses rose. Around the same time, some states were moving to reform drug laws and increased access to overdose antidotes and “911 Good Samaritan” programs that encourage drug users to seek medical help. Then, when Donald Trump became president in 2016, the war on drugs continued. Trump sought harsher sentencing for drug violations and the death penalty for sellers. He also brought back the “Just Say No” campaign, championed by First Lady Nancy Reagan in the 1980s, even though it had previously proven unsuccessful. In addition, Trump began building a border wall along the U.S./Mexico border to keep drugs out of the country, What has the War on Drugs accomplished? The number of people in prison for nonviolent drug abuse rose from 50,000 in 1980 to 400,000 in 1997. African Americans and Hispanics are more likely than their white counterparts to be targeted and arrested for drug use. On the international front, American-backed anti-drug operations in Mexico have resulted in more than 85,000 people being killed, and efforts to eliminate opium cultivation in Afghanistan have not reduced the global supply of opium but may have empowered the Taliban. In recent years, several states have legalized marijuana. How do you expect the legalization of marijuana to affect the racial disparity that exists in arrests and prison populations? Question I read the passage(1 point) Responses True True False False Skip to navigation
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The passage provided presents a historical overview of the War on Drugs in the United States, detailing its origins, changes in public perception, legislative actions, and the impacts on prison populations, particularly among racial minorities.
Regarding your question about how the legalization of marijuana might affect racial disparities in arrests and prison populations, here’s a potential response:
The legalization of marijuana could lead to a decrease in racial disparities in arrests and prison populations. Historically, African Americans and Hispanics have faced higher rates of arrest and incarceration for drug offenses, including marijuana possession, despite similar usage rates among different racial groups. By legalizing marijuana, it may reduce the number of individuals from these communities being arrested for possession. Additionally, legalization often comes with provisions to expunge past convictions, which could further address the existing disparities in the criminal justice system. However, the extent of this effect would depend on how legalization is implemented and whether enforcement practices continue to target specific communities disproportionately.
If you have further questions or need clarification, feel free to ask!
Regarding your question about how the legalization of marijuana might affect racial disparities in arrests and prison populations, here’s a potential response:
The legalization of marijuana could lead to a decrease in racial disparities in arrests and prison populations. Historically, African Americans and Hispanics have faced higher rates of arrest and incarceration for drug offenses, including marijuana possession, despite similar usage rates among different racial groups. By legalizing marijuana, it may reduce the number of individuals from these communities being arrested for possession. Additionally, legalization often comes with provisions to expunge past convictions, which could further address the existing disparities in the criminal justice system. However, the extent of this effect would depend on how legalization is implemented and whether enforcement practices continue to target specific communities disproportionately.
If you have further questions or need clarification, feel free to ask!