Legalization of Street Drugs

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Legalization of Street Drugs

A drug can be defined as a substance that changes the normal body functioning. Production of illicit drugs is usually forbidden. In addition, use of illicit drugs is stringently restricted because they could result to habituation or addiction. Street drugs like marijuana, ecstasy, heroin, and cocaine can be beneficial if correctly used and very perilous if put in wrong use. The problem of misuse of drugs has caused many issues. Ban of use of drugs has been a key issue of debate in different nations across the world. Given that the drugs are already in the wrong hands, their control, as well as regulation are indispensable. The only solution to this problem is complete legalization coupled with the right controls. I totally support the argument that street drugs should indeed be legalized. Legalization of drugs is an alternative that has not been given an opportunity yet and which I believe should. Although a great majority feels that legalization would raise the chucks of use, I believe that drugs need to be legalized, as this will lower the high amounts of cash used up on enforcement. In addition, it would increase the revenues a country raises. What is more, prohibition will rebuff authorities the opportunity to inform schoolchildren about appropriate use of drugs. Much of the arguments that this essay will draw are from "The missing piece to the gang-violence Debate."

Many people consider legalization redundant. Majority of those who oppose legalization think that it would increase use of drugs. They argue that the countless cases of users who quit did it because of difficulty with the rule of law. Drug legalization would eradicate the legal compel that dispirits users from selling or using drugs. They further argue that by legalizing drugs, individuals who have never tasted on drugs for dread of finding themselves in the wrong side of law will perhaps have no cause of worry and will become typical drug users. That notwithstanding, legalizing drugs will lower the huge chunks of money channeled on enforcement. Drug users and dealers are always one-step in front of enforcement process. In 1987, America spent $10 billion on enforcing laws on drugs. In the same year, drugs alone accounted for 40% of all crime accusations in New York. This figure increased drastically since 1985. It is unimaginable what the figure would read today. Close to 40 percent of prisoners in America are violators of drug laws. Lots of money is spent on a channel that appears to have no end.

It also appears that legalization would increase the revenue of an economy. During prohibition, use of alcohol remained rampant. Individuals were still taking it, although it was unlawful. The twenty-first Amendment rescinded prohibition and taxes on alcohol were raised. The same case should apply to drugs. Taxation of drugs will result to a raise in income. Similar companies that produce other drugs like aspirin would actually manufacture the drugs. This would guarantee quality and avoid such things as adulterants and poisoning. Disinfected hypodermic needles would be available at drug stores. They would be levied heavily because users would be guaranteed of hygienic drugs. The yield from these taxes would be employed for system owned clinics. Legalization would profit an economy greatly. First, it will enable capital spent on enforcement of drugs to be directed to resourceful channels. Secondly, it would raise a country's revenue (Balkin 46).

The current motion on drug legalization is asking governments whether they will assist in working out drug issues accordingly. The answer to this question is unreserved yes. It is apparent that the present drug prohibitions are just cleaning up the mess and not giving practical solutions. Taxations and legalizations remain the only means through which practical answers can be attained. To bring this a little closer home, we can think of the situation in Britain where every year criminals control lots of money in drug industry rather than traders and the government through the underground market. This business has indeed encouraged sexual slavery, unlawful munitions trade, and global terrorism. As reported in "The missing piece to the gang-violence Debate," drugs are a key contributor to gang-violence we see all over the world. Nearly half of unlawful offenses reported in Britain are linked to drugs. A question of concern would be whether reducing these offenses would free our prisons and legal services just for a while. Redundant prohibitions on use of drugs have resulted to young people committing drug linked offenses, which of course has deprived them of the much desired drug advise, besides undercutting people's reverence for the rule of law (Balkin 57). Therefore, governments need to take the palpable step, impose taxes and legislation on sale of drugs, and put drug state restriction. By doing this, countries will be relieved the heavy burden of lurching under needless prohibitions.

Prohibitions on abuse of drugs like alcohol have existed since 1920s in America and among developed economies. It has convinced people that consuming it is indeed a criminal offense, which could