Rating: 
Summary: Interesting, Well-Written, and Lively
Review: "Judge James P. Gray, a California trial court judge since 1983, has come to believe that the war on drugs is an abject failure both on its own terms (stopping illegal drug use) and with regard to its impact on society. As an experienced trial judge and former federal prosecutor who briefly held a record for the largest drug prosecution in the Central District of California, Judge Gray is in a position to speak with authority about what is wrong with the war on drugs. He does so in compelling language. For example, he opens the book by promising readers that drug policy with someday change, and when it does, "we will look back n astonishment that we allowed our former policy to persist for so long, much as we look back now at slavery, or Jim Crow laws, or the days when women were prohibited from voting" (p. 5).""In sum, Judge Gray's book is an interesting, well-written, and lively account of the costs of drug prohibition. It should not be the only book someone reads on the subject, however, although it is a reasonable introduction to the general subject. Those deeply interested in the subject with want to read it mainly for the marvelous quotes from judges and for Judge Gray's own comments on the evolution of his understanding." -From "The Independent Review," Summer 2002
Rating:
Summary: This book will convince you!
Review: I am a social conservative and previously supported the War on Drugs because, well, drugs are bad. But I read this book and became convinced that the U.S. couldn't have devised a better strategy than the War on Drugs to ENRICH drug dealers and INCREASE harms affiliated with drug abuse. If Americans had ANY IDEA how reckless and counterproductive our current drug policy is, there would be HUGE political pressure for change. That's where "Why Our Drug Laws Have Failed" comes in. Conservative judge James P. Gray -- who presides over the Superior Court in Orange County, CA -- is certainly "in the know" about drug abuse issues. With over 20 years' experience as a judge, Gray is on the front lines of the War on Drugs. A former prosecutor and self-proclaimed "drug warrior," Gray's own efforts only persuaded him that the War on Drugs is causing much more harm than good. (I took off one star because Gray is a decent writer, but much of his sentence construction is a little clunky.) This book should be required reading for EVERY American voter! Judge Gray will convince you that America is only shooting itself in the foot and dragging down other countries with it. (Indeed, Gray promises in his introduction: "No one who reads this book and thinks objectively about the issues it raises will favor a continuation of our present drug policy.") This is not just rhetoric -- even with all the sweat, blood, and money we pump into the drug war, there are more drugs on our streets than ever before! We couldn't have devised a bigger failure if we tried. Thankfully, the author does detail numerous common-sense alternatives to the two extremes of drug prohibition and drug legalization. "Why Our Drug Laws Have Failed" demonstrates that our War on Drugs is needlessly and recklessly tearing apart lives and families. That should be enough to give liberals AND conservatives pause.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent overview WITH solutions to ending prohibition
Review: I wont repeat what others have said about how this book highlights the waste of money and the erosion of liberties of the current drug prohibition. What is equally great in this book is the examples of how Switzerland (and previously parts of the UK and even New Orleans back in the 1910s) uses maintenance programs to keep addicts healthy but not high as they wean them off drugs AND lowered crime, reduced drug use, and saved taxpayers money. Yet we are not allowed to sensibly debate or even to know about this in the USA because it sends a "bad message to our children". Gray's best line is "Do we really believe that Swiss parents love their kids less than we love ours?" The evidence suggest that they may care about them more....
Rating:
Summary: An Unwinnable War
Review: If you are absolutely convinced that we are winning the war on drugs, don't bother to read this book. But if you have even the slightest doubts about what we are doing on this battlefield, then this extraordinary book will be an eye-opener. Judge Gray, along with such conservatives as George Schultz and William Buckley, Jr. are certainly not radicals. They are simply realists who realize that the drug war is an unwinnable war. If you want to know why, then Judge Gray's thoroughly documented work will show you why--in detail!
Rating:
Summary: An Unwinnable War
Review: If you are absolutely convinced that we are winning the war on drugs, don't bother to read this book. But if you have even the slightest doubts about what we are doing on this battlefield, then this extraordinary book will be an eye-opener. Judge Gray, along with such conservatives as George Schultz and William Buckley, Jr. are certainly not radicals. They are simply realists who realize that the drug war is an unwinnable war. If you want to know why, then Judge Gray's thoroughly documented work will show you why--in detail!
Rating:
Summary: Triumphant, debate-ending tour-de-force
Review: Judge Gray says what all opponents of the drug war have been saying all along, and he lends his succinct style and honorable status to the fight against drug prohibition. The arguments are well-known and do not bear repeating here, and it suffices to say that the book is written in a straight-forward, professional manner, explaining in detail each point of the argument and anticipating most semi-intelligent responses. Our Drug War is a miserable failure. Judge Gray has recognized that and is stepping up to the plate; the rest of us should follow suit. This book is excellent material to bolster your arguments against drug prohibition, arguments that will be the basis for decriminalization of many controlled substances, hopefully within the next decade. Judge Gray's book is filled with undeniable logic and speaks to both our empathy and rationality. For those of you not yet convinced by what you feel are shaky arguments against drug statutes, read this book and see the light, so to speak. The entire DEA should read this book and start looking for jobs that are not wasteful and immoral. We can only hope there will be no demand for such job positions in the near future.
Rating:
Summary: War on Civil Rights
Review: Judge Gray's book is an well written, thought provoking examination of our nation's current drug policy. Judge Gray not only explains how the war on drugs has failed to curb drug use, but also how it has inflicted severe damage on the rights of citizens of this nation whether or not they use illegal drugs. A must read for anyone who wishes to take his or her head out of the sand regarding this important issue of the day.
Rating:
Summary: It's Time to End the Insanity of the Failed Drug War
Review: Judge James Gray has served in several capacities, including prosecutor, defense attorney, and judge as well as his recent career move as an author and possible political candidate. Through his work in the legal system, he has witnessed the corruption, the injustice, and the overall insanity of the War on Drugs. He wrote this book as an educational piece and as a call to political action. Gray presents dozens of quotes from individuals in government, in law, and in other walks of life who have observed the failures of the drug war and know that the laws against drug use are actually more harmful than the drugs themselves. Gray shows how the drug laws have been used to justify expansion of government power and erosion of civil liberties. He shows how drug laws corrupt law enforcement officials and often lead to early paroling of violent criminals in order to make room in prison cells for non- violent drug offenders. Most politicians refuse to touch this issue (with a few exceptions, like former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson) out of fear. They worry how the ignorant, misinformed public will respond so they just push the issue under the table and hope it doesn't resurface during election time. One of the most indicting facts about the pro- drug war radicals is the fact that they usually refuse to debate anti- drug war advocates in a public forum. Death- loving extremists, like the evil former drug czar Barry McCaffrey, refuse to debate these issues. This intimidation of taking on an anti- drug war individual speaks volumes. If the pro- drug war forces really felt their message was srong, they would have no problem having a debate and, in fact, would likely welcome one. But Gray points out that he is usually shunned when he approaches one of these drug war supporters with an invitation for an open debate. Gray presents many angles of the drug issue in this book, and then he follows his words with a defined plan of action. He doesn't necessarily push his own views as the only ones that are valid. Rather, he presents the facts and lets the reader decide, confident in the fact that most anyone who knows the facts will likely take the side against continuing the insane war on drugs. Gray wrote this book as a wake up call. The crazy war on drugs has caused endless amounts of human tragedy while making many people (drug kingpins, law enforcement, lawyers, etc.) very rich. It's no wonder that these people want to keep the war going. It has nothing to do with morals or justice. They don't want to see an end to the flow of funds into their already oversized wallets. But something has to be done. If the failed war on drugs is not ended soon, Gray fears that more and more civil liberties and privacy rights will be lost and the United Stated will continue to send a larger and larger portion of its population to serve time in jail, which will do absolutely nothing to curtail drug use and will result in more and more expansions of government power and control. His book is outspoken and gets right to the heart of the matter, and I highly recommend reading this book to anyone who has even the slightest interest in law, politics, and justice
Rating:
Summary: Thoroughly researched; highly readable; strongly recommended
Review: Judge James P. Gray makes a compelling case for massive retooling of our nation's costly approach and attempts to confront drug use and abuse. This highly recommended, thought-provoking book is sure to stimulate discussion--not only for those readers who desire serious reevaluation of our current War on Drugs, but also among those who believe our present efforts should be continued and expanded. I never pass out books to others in an unsolicted fashion, but for this book and this critical, national issue, I am making an exception: I'm ordering extra copies to send to adult and adolescent family and friends, as well as legislators--with a heartfelt request that recipients please consider using some of their valuable time to read it and revisit the issues contained inside.
Rating: 
Summary: A diatribe
Review: one thing to keep in mind: lawyers are trained to make arguments. Not addressed by the book are issues such as: legalize which drugs? (LSD? pot only? coca leaves? ("mate de coca"--legal in South America) cocaine hydrochloride (crystals?); what transition periods for legalization (do you open the floodgates, or a gradual opening, maybe with registration of heavy duty users)?; meth treatments for heavy abusers?; do you privatize or let the government run dope shops? (if privatize, do you grandfather criminals, who employ the best people anyway, and give them a head start?). And so on. Economics and human activity is game theory--there are no easy answers. But I agree that the book is a good first order approximation, albeit it will take a generation before the real issues can be addressed. So the reviewer that said this book preaches to the choir is right.
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