DRUG LEGALIZATION 1

Drug Legalization

Student’s Name

Institutional Affiliation
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Drug Legalization

Drugs have been an issue since their appearance for the first time, and while they have

two sides in every situation, there are some things that remain a question for most people when

they think about any kind of drugs. Some are good for medication and health purposes, and those

are the ones that tend to be seen as most inoffensive, while there are others that can be extremely

addictive, bad for health and have resulted in death for those who abused it. The connection that

drugs have with the large number of life losses over the years is more than just overdose and

abused, it also has a lot to do with the kinds of crime and violence that surround this topic. In

every part of the world, the war to make sure that drugs are handled in as the world dictates is an

issue that still goes on. There are countries where the laws involving drugs are more firm than

others, and in some, it can be seen as a positive thing for some, but for others it can be different

because it means that if drugs are illegal, people might still find a way to handle them despite of

the efforts that the law enforcers are putting to make sure that this problem ends. All of this

brings an important issue to light, which makes people wonder if whether the legalization of

drugs will stop the traffic of the same, or if things will continue to be the same no matter what.

“The future does not look bright, but doing nothing would be our greatest failure. If we

let down our guard, our young people will suffer. They will feel the full force of the drug threat,

and our national security and public health will be at the mercy of organized crime.” (Gonzales-

Baez, 2000). According to this author, there have been already too many losses in the past

because of drug and organized crime problems, most of them taking the lives of young people

who were involved with the use of these substances one way or the other. It is time to make sure
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that the fight against drugs and the crime and violence that come along with it come to a stop, not

only for the current youth, but also because of the many generations that will come later on. And

the way to do achieve this while also making sure that there will be no more losses of life

because of the organized crime is to make sure that drugs are finally legalized, getting easier

access to those that are currently swarming the street in illegal manners, and making sure that the

quantity of it remains under control in order to keep people from abusing it. The legalization of

drugs will help the people who want to gain access to them stay away from the illegal activities

that lead to violence and, in many of these cases, to death, while also making sure that they can

choose to get help in case they have any abuse problems related to drugs.

“Many legalization advocates argue that if drugs were legalized, crime and violence

would decrease. The commonsense response to that argument is that the already unacceptably

high level of teen drug use undoubtedly would soar even higher, dragging in its wake the societal

problems that accompany drug use. The reality is that drug use is almost always a contributing

factor to criminal behavior.” (McCollum, 2000). Thinking that the legalization of drugs is the

way out of a big part of the crime and violence on the streets nowadays is keeping some people

from seeing the bigger picture. While part of it is true, and seeing it from a logical point of view,

legalizing drugs and giving people easier access to them might close off the lines or even end the

business for those who gain money from trafficking drugs and smuggling them into a country,

they do not see that this is not an entire solution for it. Legalizing drugs will still be a problem

because there are already many people who have addiction problems, especially teenagers and

young people who are often suffering from a big load of stress and need something to keep

themselves moving forward. “If we legalize drugs, ex-users might relapse and continue that
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deadly habit because drugs will be sold openly in everywhere.” (McCollum, 2000). Saying yes to

the drug legalization might be a terrible mistake because it will give a better access to those who

already quit using them and are just trying to live a regular life, the temptation will always be

there no matter what and having drugs within reach will be dangerous for them and those around

them, especially when there are suggestions of making sure that the amount of drugs that will be

allowed per person is going to be a controlled number, they will find a way to get around that

rule in order to get access to what they want so badly.

“Reductions in average harm but increases in use, reductions in crime but increases in

addiction and intoxication, and gains for some citizens but losses for others. In fact, there is no

exact measurement to claim that whether one of the drug control policies is better than another.”

(SDU, 2011). While there are two sides on this debate, there might be a chance to say that drug

legalization is not the answer for the problem that exists in every country, providing free access

to all the dangerous drugs out there, not only marihuana, has a chance of both increasing criminal

and violence rates, since most of the people who hurt others over drugs are the ones consuming

them and not the ones who sells them, and it can also increase the number of people who end up

suffering from drug overdose. All of these points can be useful to come up with a solution that

would mean that drugs like cocaine, meth and heroin should continue to be illegal to keep them

away from those who are in danger of harming themselves, and that the laws and policies

concerning this topic should be stricter in order to stop them from circulating on the streets

because the idea is not to decrease the crime and violence rate because of drugs, it is to stop it

altogether and make sure that every citizen is safe from them, as well as their loved ones.
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Looking at this from all sides and perspectives, it can be said that legalizing the use of the

stronger drugs might be good to avoid the death rates currently looming over the country, and

that it might even stop the crimes related to drugs in some countries. But this is not a problem

that needs to be controlled; it needs to be stopped instead. Legalizing drugs is will still keep the

substance within reach of those who have proved to be addicts in the past, and it might cause for

them to fall for it once more, this time without having to worry about breaking the law at all. The

legalization of drugs might not prove to be the solution to this because it is not getting rid of the

problem; it is just offering a temporary solution in order to take care of another problem that

links them together.

Dialogue
Nick: Have you ever tried drugs?

Harry: No. did you?

Nick: Yes, and since I’m not addicted, I think the government should consider it’s legalization.

Harry: Oh! But I guess these are supposed to be used for health purposes; helaing and medication

instead of overdose or abuse.

Nick: Some are good for medication and health purposes, and those are the ones that tend to be

seen as most inoffensive.

Harry: while there are others that can be extremely addictive, bad for health and have resulted in

death for those who abused it. The connection that drugs have with the large number of life

losses over the years is more than just overdose and abused, it also has a lot to do with the kinds

of crime and violence that surround this topic.

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Nick: some countries abide by the strict law and regulations regarding drugs where people still

find a way to handle drug illegality despite the efforts of the law enforcing the end of its misuse.

Harry: Yes, this is where the problem starts and keeps on diverging. Some people think that

legalizing would have no effect on people. But, neglecting the impacts of such an important

subject can further complicate the situation where youngsters are prone to such situations.

Furthermore, this not only ends here but the generations of a single addict can be influenced

badly.

Nick: The drugs are already illegally swarming in the market. Making it legal still won’t make a

difference. Right?

Harry: Wrong! The quantity is to made under control and easier access shall always be denied.

Illegal usage will still keep certain people away from its access. It not only leads to violence but

in excessive overuse, it can lead to death.

Nick: okay. But still there are legalization advocates who are in favor of crime and violence

reduction support the decision.

Harry: In the long run, the teenagers drug usage would reach the higher levels. The reality lies in

the opposition of the opinion of such advocates i.e., legalization would cause more severe

societal problems and criminal behavior.

Nick: From another perspective, legalizing can control the smuggling and illegal supply of the

drugs. They can lag in their respective businesses.

Harry: yes, but it shall not be done at the cost of people’s health, life, careers, and societal well-

being. Also, the ex-users can continue with its usage in case of drug legalization.
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Nick: the temptation however is difficult to eradicate.

Harry: yes, but legalization shall never be kept as an option to control such effects because the

quantity control of certain drugs over another would impact different types of consumers in more

sophisticated ways. In fact, there is no exact measurement to claim that whether one of the drug

control policies is better than another.

Nick: then what do you think is the solution?

Harry: drug legalization is not the answer for the problem that exists in every country, providing

free access to all the dangerous drugs out there, not only marihuana, has a chance of both

increasing criminal and violence rates, since most of the people who hurt others over drugs are

the ones consuming them and not the ones who sells them, and it can also increase the number of

people who end up suffering from drug overdose. All of these points can be useful to come up

with a solution that would mean that drugs like cocaine, meth and heroin should continue to be

illegal to keep them away from those who are in danger of harming themselves, and that the laws

and policies concerning this topic should be stricter in order to stop them from circulating on the

streets because the idea is not to decrease the crime and violence rate because of drugs, it is to

stop it altogether and make sure that every citizen is safe from them, as well as their loved ones.

Nick: Looking at this from all sides and perspectives, it can be said that legalizing the use of the

stronger drugs might be good to avoid the death rates currently looming over the country, and

that it might even stop the crimes related to drugs in some countries. But this is not a problem

that needs to be controlled; it needs to be stopped instead.

Harry: yes, and legalizing drugs is will still keep the substance within reach of those who have

proved to be addicts in the past, and it might cause for them to fall for it once more, this time
 DRUG LEGALIZATION 8

without having to worry about breaking the law at all. The legalization of drugs might not prove

to be the solution to this because it is not getting rid of the problem; it is just offering a

temporary solution in order to take care of another problem that links them together.
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References:

Barbour, S. “Drug Legalization.”

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data. 2000.
McCollum, B. “The War on Drugs Should Focus on Reducing the Drug Supply.”
Publicated in Drug Legalization, by Barbour, S. 2000.
Gonzales-Baez, G. “Mexico Is Committed to Cooperation with U.S. Drug Prohibition Efforts.”
Publicated in Drug Legalization, by Barbour, S. 2000.

SDU Faculty of Arts and Sciences. “Drug Legalization Debate.”

Journal of Social Sciences. 2011.