Drugs

One issue which isn't on the forefront of a lot of minds is drug legalization. Not just the legalization of marijuana, or MDMA (ecstasy), but rather the legalization of all drugs. The majority (around 82 percent according to one poll [1]) of Americans oppose the legalization of heroin and cocaine the same way alcohol is legalized. There are a multitude of pros and cons to both sides of the argument, and honestly at this point in time full drug legalization is nothing but a pipe dream for its advocates. However, I would still like to examine both sides of the argument. Whether these arguments are valid is up to the reader to decide.

One argument against drug legalization which holds a lot of weight is health concerns. Few would deny the negative effects which illegal drugs have on the human body. Some argue that if more drugs were to be legalized this would in turn lead to increased hospital admissions, and general health care costs. Others criticize the drug legalization movement from a legal view point. The USDEA claims that "Six times as many homicides are committed by people under the influence of drugs" (2). I once had a debate with a social studies teacher of mine who used the argument that the Constitution says that the job of the government is to protect the citizens as a reason to keep drugs illegal. Some say that if drugs were legal the dealers would not go away and would instead focus on a younger market. Finally, one cannot ignore the moral outrage many people feel about drugs and drug use (3).

The Pro side of the legalization argument has it's own points to make. For one, many cite the funding that many terrorist organization gain from drug sales as a reason to legalize (4). The reason the terrorists are able to profit off this sale is because the drugs are on the black market. Others cite the profit that the United States could theoretically make off the close control and taxation over a drug market. Still others use the argument that if the US were to control the drug market they could help lessen the dangers the drugs pose by closely monitoring what the drugs are cut with, the dosages, etc. Many feel that current US drug laws actually support the growth of large drug cartels. For example, one member of a Columbian drug cartel stated that he actually relied on US drug laws to help increase market price and to weed out smaller dealing operations (5).

I fall totally on the pro side of the argument. I feel that all drugs should be legalized from marijuana to cocaine to heroin. I could cite a myriad of reasons why I came to this decision, but I think to me it's mostly a matter of choice. I feel that it is not the role of the government to regulate its citizens's personal choices. Instead I feel that the government should exist to protect my right to choose not to take it away. Personally I have never abused a drug, nor drunk alcohol (nor do I have any real desire to), but I would fight tooth and nail for any citizen's right to do so. Would I prefer it if other's did not use drugs or alcohol? Sure, but it's not my right to tell them not to. I must say though, that is me coming from an idealized point of view. I understand that we will most likely not end drug prohibition in my lifetime, and that if it does ever happen it won't be for many generations (there are just too many social stigmas surrounding drug abuse). Instead perhaps we could legalize less dangerous drugs like ecstasy or marijuana. Perhaps we could just lessen the penalties for drug possession to help free up our prisons and allow our police officers to focus on more violent crimes. I would be happy with that. At the end of the day however, the end of drug prohibition would be my ultimate goal.

Finally, I think I'd like to end with a quote from a favored author of mine which inspired my interest in this argument "Drug misuse is not a disease, it is a decision, like the decision to step out in front of a moving car. You would call that not a disease but an error of judgement" - Philip K. Dick (6)