The War On Drugs was conceived by Richard Nixon. That should be a indication of its efficacy and usefulness to society.
I knew a couple who got caught on the Canadian border with an ounce of weed in 72/73. Stripped and anal and vaginally searched etc. The Canadians seemingly hadn't made up their minds on the arrest and the American border guards started demanding the two (very likely to prosecute). The Canadians, annoyed by the American's insistence, threw the pot into the garbage, told the couple not to try and smuggle again, and cut them loose.
Just how much did this garbage cost the taxpayers?
Entirely too much.
Exactly.