The majority of Americans support the decriminalization of drugs

More than half, 60%, of Americans believe the war on drugs should end and support the decriminalization of illegal substances.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Drug Policy Allegiance (DPA) released the poll ahead of the 50th anniversary in which President Nixon declared drugs “public enemy number 1”. This rhetoric and decision impacted the lives of thousands, leading to mass incarcerations and the spread of violence around the world that disproportionately affected blacks, Latinos and Indians.

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According to the poll, 65% of respondents agreed that the US should end the war on drugs, with 66% believing in decriminalization of drugs as a whole.

Our survey found that nearly two-thirds of the country believe we need a new approach based on public health, not law enforcement. pic.twitter.com/aUUVgH3wtq

– the ACLU (@ACLU) June 9, 2021

Survey results show how much attitudes have changed since the 1970s. Almost two-thirds of the country believe that instead of new law enforcement, there should be new enforcement in health care. The majority of respondents believe that drugs should be a problem that should be solved by health care providers, not officials. And 83% of respondents believe the war on drugs has failed.

The message of the poll and statement was that the Biden administration is taking action against the war on drugs and using these results as evidence of what the American people want and what they believe in.

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“On the occasion of this 50 the judicial department of the ACLU.

Photo by krisanapong detraphiphat / Getty Images

“Today drug possession remains the number one arrestment in the United States, with more than 1.35 million arrests a year. Every 25 seconds a person is arrested for possession of drugs for personal use, with blacks being disproportionately affected by this over-surveillance.

In the coming weeks, the ACLU and DPA will launch a media campaign urging President Biden to start dismantling the drug war by reducing sentences for people in federal prisons for drugs.

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In the past, Biden has said no one should go to jail for low-level drug cases. His government has said that postponing cannabis would be a good first step in releasing inmates charged with marijuana convictions.