Washington, D.C. – Despite the federal government spending nearly $4 billion to combat marijuana use last year and tens of billions over the last three decades, use and perception of the drug has changed little, according to a new economic study commissioned by Taxpayers for Common Sense, a national budget watchdog organization.

“Despite sky-high deficits, taxpayers continue to watch their money go up in smoke funding expensive but ineffective government programs intended to reduce marijuana use,” said Erich Zimmermann, Senior Policy Analyst at Taxpayers for Common Sense.

A new report commissioned by Taxpayers for Common Sense (TCS) and written by visiting Harvard University economist Dr. Jeffrey Miron found that efforts to reduce marijuana use and supply cost federal taxpayers more than $3.67 billion in FY04, despite no evidence that the programs actual work.

TCS commissioned this study as part of its ongoing efforts to locate wasteful and ineffective federal spending and encourage the most efficient use of taxpayer dollars.

“Both political parties should be concerned by the poor performance of expensive drug war programs at fighting marijuana use,” continued Zimmermann. “It is the favorite pastime of lawmakers to throw money at a problem and then think it is fixed.”

Federal figures show that total war on drugs spending cost federal taxpayers $11.9 billion in 2004, but the government doesn’t break down the spending by individual drugs. In addition, the federal government lacks any data to show that the money spent to reduce marijuana use has been effective.

“Most available evidence suggests that increased federal spending on marijuana has accompanied increased use,” continued Zimmermann.

The report contains the type of data that federal agencies should have available to assess the effectiveness of federal programs. How much the government is spending and changes in use and availability are tools that can measure the effectiveness of the nation’s anti-drug program investment, and this information should be made available on a drug-by-drug basis.

“There is no question that much of the tens of billions of dollars spent on the federal drug war has been wasted. Unfortunately, without any real political leadership this waste continues to plague us,” concluded Zimmermann.

Contact: Erich Zimmermann
(202) 546-8500 x132

Read the full report–  Federal Marijuana Policy: A Preliminary Assessment