Failed Drug War Policy Hurts New Jersey Farmers

From huntsu at Blue Jersey, I found this quite interesting, even the more incidental note about how coca (as in cocaine) yields in places like Peru are at record levels despite the money we might as well snort for all the good it does in the "drug" war:

No, it's not that they won't let farmers grow marijuana for medicinal purposes, though Governor Jon Corzine reiterated his support for medicinal marijuana yesterday.

It's that a 1990 law passed by the Democratic Congress at the time to pressure drug-producing -- specifically cocaine -- countries to grow other crops provides for preferential trade treatment.

Peru has taken advantage of this tariff-free to expand it's asparagus production and exports to the United States. As a result of lower production costs in Peru and no import duties, Peruvian asparagus costs less than American asparagus.

New Jersey is either the fourth or fifth largest producer of asparagus in the United States. As such, our farmers -- largely in southern New Jersey where there is good loamy, sandy soil asparagus loves -- are being hurt by this policy. Fortunately, production is up over five years but limited by policies like this.

Does it work? Ummmmm, no.

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Web site currently notes that the Peruvian coca acreage, mostly in the highlands, is the highest it has been in eight years.

While about the only drugs I've done in a long time come from the pharmacy and as much as I'd hate to see the entire world stoned on a daily basis, it's so far past time to end this disastrous "war on drugs."