Who Started The War On Drugs

The War on Drugs is a term used to describe the government’s declarations, policies, and initiatives to reduce illegal drug use and the illegal drug trade. It was first coined by President Richard Nixon in 1972, though drug legislation and policies had been developing for decades beforehand.

The roots of the War on Drugs are most often traced to the Harrison Act of 1914, which was one of the first national laws to criminalize certain drugs at a federal level. This law was aimed primarily at controlling the recreational use of opiates and cocaine.

Additional federal laws were passed throughout the 1920s and 30s, including the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, which imposed a tax on cannabis and made it virtually impossible to legally purchase or sell the substance. However, some historians have argued that the War on Drugs officially began in 1961 with the passage of the Narcotic Control Act and the formation of the President’s Advisory Commission on Narcotics and Drug Abuse, among other initiatives.

In 1971, Nixon made the famous declaration that America was “in the midst of a moral and political crisis” due to rampant drug use. He proposed a massive governmental effort to expand the powers of law enforcement and target drug trafficking, users, and sellers, as well as to increase the public’s awareness of the dangers of drug use. This proposal was officially dubbed the “war on drugs” in a press conference on June 17th, 1971.

Since then, the federal government has passed a long list of laws and initiatives meant to tackle drug use in America. Some of the most prominent policies include mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines that provide harsh punishments for drug-related offenses, increased funding to expand the power of law enforcement, restrict access to drug use through prevention programs, and increase treatment options for those struggling with drug addiction.

Though the War on Drugs has had its successes, such as the reduction of illegal drug use, it has also been criticized for extensive racial inequality. Critics have argued that it has disproportionately targeted and punished people of color for drug-related offenses.

Ultimately, determining who started the War on Drugs is tricky. It certainly goes back to the early 1900s when the Harrison Act targeted recreational drug use. But in terms of the literal “war,” its declaration is officially credited to President Nixon in 1971.