From Prohibition to Prescription: Exploring Injustice, Bias, and Science-Based Solutions

Summary

The thesis critiques the war on drugs for its disproportionate impact on minority communities and its focus on exploitation rather than public health. It discusses the politically influenced DEA drug scheduling process that overlooks the medical benefits of substances like cannabis and psychedelics. The work highlights how US drug policy has led to mass incarceration and racial disparities while failing to address overdose deaths. It advocates for evidence-based reform in drug policy, particularly regarding the regulation of psychedelics for mental health treatment.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This thesis critiques the war on drugs for disproportionately targeting minority communities and prioritizing systemic exploitation over public health. It examines the flawed, politically influenced DEA drug scheduling process, which neglects evidence of the medical benefits of substances like cannabis, psilocybin, LSD, DMT, and MDMA. This thesis gives a brief history of the evolution of US drug policy, which contributed to mass incarceration, reinforced racial disparities, and failed to reduce overdose deaths. It also highlights the potential mental health benefits of decriminalizing and regulating psychedelics to treat conditions like PTSD, depression, and substance abuse disorder. This thesis concludes by promoting the need for evidence-based drug policy reform. It suggests changes to the DEA's scheduling process and emphasizes the importance of transparency in decision-making.

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