The basis of the war

First and foremost I am obviously opposed to the "war on drugs" and all that it has stolen from this country and her people. The first thing everyone should notice in regards to this "war" is the classification system the government uses to determine which drugs should be illegal. The classification system used is called scheduling. These are the requirements for a drug to be placed under each schedule.

(1) Schedule I. -

(A) The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.

(B) The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.

(C) There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.

(2) Schedule II. -

(A) The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.

(B) The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions.

(C) Abuse of the drug or other substances may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.

(3) Schedule III. -

(A) The drug or other substance has a potential for abuse less than the drugs or other substances in schedules I and II.

(B) The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.

(C) Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.

(4) Schedule IV. -

(A) The drug or other substance has a low potential for abuse relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule III.

(B) The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.

(C) Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule III.

(5) Schedule V. -

(A) The drug or other substance has a low potential for abuse relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule IV.

(B) The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.

(C) Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule IV.

(DEA, Title 21, Section 812)

Now this scheduling could be a useful tool if used properly. However due to the fact that there are schedule 1 drugs that have an extremely large variance within the scientific and medical community for both constructive use and medical benefits, it can be reasonably concluded that the government decides which drug should be in which schedule and then makes that drug fit the requirements. This is also shown in the hypocrisy with the scheduling. Marijuana is schedule 1 even though 13 states have authorized its use medically, also that both alcohol and tobacco have been linked directly to cancer and other illnesses resulting in death, yet they remain unscheduled and on the open market.