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Revolution in Policy: How Changing Drug Laws Could Transform Our Society!

Difficult to do but worth every effort!

Timothy Harrington
3 min readJan 8, 2024

Changing drug control policy is a challenging endeavor due to a variety of deeply entrenched factors:

1. Political Risk: Politicians often fear being perceived as ‘soft on crime.’ Proposing changes to drug policies, especially those leaning towards decriminalization or legalization, can be politically risky. Politicians worry about losing votes or support, as tough-on-crime stances traditionally garner more public favor. This aversion to risk leads to a reluctance to initiate or support reform.

2. International Treaties: Many countries are signatories to international treaties like the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, which set strict guidelines on drug control. Deviating from these agreements can be complicated, requiring extensive diplomatic negotiations and potentially impacting international relations.

3. Economic Interests: The current drug policy regime supports various industries, including law enforcement, private prisons, and pharmaceutical companies. These industries can exert significant influence over policy through lobbying efforts and campaign contributions, advocating for the…

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Timothy Harrington
Timothy Harrington

Written by Timothy Harrington

Champion of Family and Community Powered Change Related to Addiction, Mental and Emotional Health Challenges

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