History Channel's special series: "America's War on Drugs"

The History Channel ^ | June, 2017

[logician2u]

The History Channel is running a four-part series tracing the history (duh!) of the so-called War on Drugs.

Since I seldom watch TV any more, I learned about this after the third episode had already aired. Rats!

However, as luck would have it those of us who missed out didn't really miss anything.

We can watch at our own pace, a few minutes at a time if that's all we can digest in one sitting (or or are otherwise distracted by barking dogs, phone calls, kids, meals). The site will remember where you left off so you can resume at that point, just like in the old days when you taped a show on your VCR. Nifty!

Here is the link: http://www.history.com/shows/americas-war-on-drugs

I am not especially interested in a pro-con debate on whether laws on drugs of a non-prescription nature are good or bad. We all have our opinions on that.

It would be very useful, as a student of history, to get some FReepers' observations on whether this documentary is plowing the same old ground or -- can it even be possible? -- bringing new facts to the table.

After all, Americans are still learning things about World War II that were locked up in the vault for over fifty years. And that war only lasted four, at least it did for us.

The WOD was officially declared on June 18, 1971 (I had to look it up -- all I knew it was Nixon's war). We're now in the 47th year of fighting it with no end in sight.

[kearnyirish2]

We lost the “war on drugs” when it became an industry unto itself, and a massive injection of funds and clients into the law enforcement/judicial/incarceration industrial complex.

What would all those people do for a living if we stopped using drugs?

[Does so]

$3,000,000 settlement in Minneapolis marijuana-linked police shooting. (Victim and videoing passenger smoking dope with tyke in back seat.)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus. Still losing...

[kearnyirish2]

Thankfully the cop was cleared (though I believe he resigned); I thought it was absolutely creepy that the woman didn’t even attempt first aid, but continued filming...