Opioid Addiction Epidemic

So recently over the past few months I've noticed a trend of public figures and politicians stressing the point that opioid abuse is not an issue of crime but instead an addiction epidemic, that needs to be treated as a health issue and not within the criminal justice system.

" Addicts Need Help. Jails Could Have the Answer. justice system."(New York Times article)

"Experts say GOP health care bill spells doom for opioid addicts"
(NY Daily times)

The articles title gives me the feeling it is more so a political issue then a public health matter.
I read the article and wonder what if there was the same outcry for the victims of the 80's crack epidemic and the unjust laws that inprisoned so many addicts for small amount of crack cocaine. What about the countless lives that are ruined for the use of cannabis? Too many of these people are young and will never hope to meet their full potential in life. Instead they will be a product of the prison industrial complex.

I'd hate to seem detached from the fact that people are losing their lives at an alarming rate from opioid abuse. I'm very aware of the horrors of those who lead a life of opioid addiction and those most close to them.
The truths need to be discussed not swept under the rug and ignored. We can't afford to make the same mistakes again and again lives are at stake.

This isnt a new issue, the open borders and cartels are shipping in narcotics like there is no tomorrow it's no secret. Didn't a Trump campaign to stop the flow of narcotics into the US? Wasnt it the Dems who wanted the open borders last presidential election?

How about the perscription drug companies and the doctors prescribing the drugs and the lobbyists? Shouldnt we start doing what is in the best interest of the people and not political parties? The left/right politcal paradigm keeps people asleep and easily maipulated. Both sides try and simplify complex issues by simply blaming their politcal opponents. I honestly dont identify with either party I just feel an unbiased dicussion is the best way to a solution.

"The opioid epidemic is so bad that librarians are learning how to treat overdoses
By Darran Simon, CNN"

Educatiion saves lives. If public figures spent more time and effort getting the cheap opioid overdose antidote Narcan in the hands of those that need it we would save countless lives.

The main point of this post is that there are many advances in the cannabis research industry. Those of us that know the benifits of cannabis now more than ever need to make that fact known.

The simple fact that cannabis research has had many breakthroughs and cannabis derived drugs could and should be used as an alternative or a replacement for opiods for pain. Many heroin addicts have used cannabis to end their addictions, this speaks volumes to me. Not to mentoin the countless of other benefits medicinally used cannabis brings to the table. In my opinion the medical industry has veered way off track and the time has come to correct the wrongs that were made.

I'm always open to a dicussion on this topic so feel free to post your thoughts. Thanks for taking the time to read my thoughts on this topic. If you find this post valuable please upvote, resteem, and follow @comet.