Why Our Drug Laws Have Failed

Someone wrote that this book preaches to the choir. This is not the case. Anne Coulter, Michael Moore- these people preach to the choir. In this book, Gray makes an argument, and a very well-constructed one at that. It convinced the hell out of me, anyway, and beforehand I didn't really have a strong opinion either way about the drug war. A reviewer of this book below wrote that it leaves a lot of questions unanswered. This may be true, but I don't think he has to apologize for not providing all the answers to our drug problems in the same omnipotent tone that has been used on us by drug warriors for decades...remember, he's against this kind of inflexible approach. I was impressed by the book's objectivity, focus, and even-keeled nature. He doesn't let emotions get in the way of his book's lucidity, even though its obvious he has passion for the issue. Every American should read this.

The arguments in this book are hardly new. They've been made many times before by many different people. What's important about this book is that it comes from a man with impeccable conservative credentials: Military service, former prosecutor, and appointed to the bench by a Republican. He used to be a strong supporter of the drug war until he saw how it fails so miserably. As long as drug legalization is seen as a cause for pot-smoking hippies a lot of people will dismiss it (meaning no disrespect to pot-smoking hippies). But as more conservatives like Gray step up and argue against drug prohibition, Middle America will be more likely to listen.

Judge James Gray has served in several capacities, including prosecutor, defense attorney, and judge as well as his recent career move as an author and possible political candidate. Through his work in the legal system, he has witnessed the corruption, the injustice, and the overall insanity of the War on Drugs. He wrote this book as an educational piece and as a call to political action.Gray presents dozens of quotes from individuals in government, in law, and in other walks of life who have observed the failures of the drug war and know that the laws against drug use are actually more harmful than the drugs themselves. Gray shows how the drug laws have been used to justify expansion of government power and erosion of civil liberties. He shows how drug laws corrupt law enforcement officials and often lead to early paroling of violent criminals in order to make room in prison cells for non- violent drug offenders. Most politicians refuse to touch this issue (with a few exceptions, like former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson) out of fear. They worry how the ignorant, misinformed public will respond so they just push the issue under the table and hope it doesn't resurface during election time. One of the most indicting facts about the pro- drug war radicals is the fact that they usually refuse to debate anti- drug war advocates in a public forum. Death- loving extremists, like the evil former drug czar Barry McCaffrey, refuse to debate these issues. This intimidation of taking on an anti- drug war individual speaks volumes. If the pro- drug war forces really felt their message was srong, they would have no problem having a debate and, in fact, would likely welcome one. But Gray points out that he is usually shunned when he approaches one of these drug war supporters with an invitation for an open debate. Gray presents many angles of the drug issue in this book, and then he follows his words with a defined plan of action. He doesn't necessarily push his own views as the only ones that are valid. Rather, he presents the facts and lets the reader decide, confident in the fact that most anyone who knows the facts will likely take the side against continuing the insane war on drugs. Gray wrote this book as a wake up call. The crazy war on drugs has caused endless amounts of human tragedy while making many people (drug kingpins, law enforcement, lawyers, etc.) very rich. It's no wonder that these people want to keep the war going. It has nothing to do with morals or justice. They don't want to see an end to the flow of funds into their already oversized wallets. But something has to be done. If the failed war on drugs is not ended soon, Gray fears that more and more civil liberties and privacy rights will be lost and the United Stated will continue to send a larger and larger portion of its population to serve time in jail, which will do absolutely nothing to curtail drug use and will result in more and more expansions of government power and control. H

The title of the book clearly indicates its thesis. But this book is more than just a judicial indictment of the war on drugs. It is clearly written and well organized, providing detailed information and sources while being easy to read.I have bought six copies so far. Three copies I've given as gifts, and the others I use to lend out. I have found this book an excellent resource for those who are just now beginning to realize that there might be problems with current drug war policies.

If you are absolutely convinced that we are winning the war on drugs, don't bother to read this book. But if you have even the slightest doubts about what we are doing on this battlefield, then this extraordinary book will be an eye-opener. Judge Gray, along with such conservatives as George Schultz and William Buckley, Jr. are certainly not radicals. They are simply realists who realize that the drug war is an unwinnable war. If you want to know why, then Judge Gray's thoroughly documented work will show you why--in detail!