College Pasteur Lelenda Arnaud Manzi-Nika

5HG 09-02-2021

English : Drugs essay

It is clear drugs have been a source of controversy over the past few years. Nowadays, marijuana
is legal in Canada. Sure, drugs can relieve some people, but it can also lead to addiction for some
people and damage their health. However, should drugs be decriminalized in Canada ? In my opinion,
I don’t think so. Here are the main reasons : some people are going to overuse them and others are
going to sell it illegally.

First of all, the overuse of drugs may have detrimental psychological effects. Some drugs, such as
cannabis, were initially only for medical use. However, people use them for various reasons these
days. Whether to relieve pain, anger, anxiety, fear or stress, people from around are able to numb their
negative feelings and retreat into a euphoric state when using drugs. A 2017 study found that
marijuana has helped 7,5 millions of Canadians feel better. In a way, drugs are similar to tobacco : the
better it makes you feel, the more you will be tempted to use it, regardless of the problems that may
occur. That’s exactly when the addiction starts, and it can have severe consequences such as increased
heart rate or brain damage. Addicted people are intoxicated and sometimes unable to properly
remember things. They also tend to make poor judgments, start stealing and be violent under the
influence of drugs. Keeping drugs criminalized in Canada will eventually ensure the population’s
mental well-being.

In the same order of ideas, illegal drug trade is not improving the situation, it’s quite the opposite.
Indeed, drug trafficking is usually carried by dangerous people who think they are above the law.
They are armed and could kill anybody to protect themselves during the operation. It isn’t necessary
to mention that such people are a danger to our society. In fact, drug prohibition has created an
underground economy (known as black market) where crimes related to people who sell them go
unreported. Consequence : Crimes become much harder to solve. On top of that, drug trade is like the
PlayStation 5. The more people buy it, the more other people are willing to buy it and use it. The more
people use it, the more people become addicted to it, and it goes on and on. It may seem impossible to
stop drug trafficking, I agree. However, keeping drugs criminalized in Canada will reduce it by
forcing them to stay undercover.

Ultimately, drugs could negatively impact us for two mains reasons. First, the abuse of drugs can have
detrimental irreversible psychological effects. Second, drug selling can have other unfavourable
effects on the society such as crimes. With that being said, reinforcing security on the Canadian
territory and raising awareness may resolve the problem in a distant future.