Should Marijuana Drugs Be Legalized?

Portugal's success would be the ideal model for Canada to base decriminalization of illicit drugs. Although Canada does not have as much of a drug epidemic that Portugal had before decriminalization, statistics show the country has rising rates of both heroin and meth use. Treating this evident problem with a different approach has been gathering heavy support over the years. Support behind this legal movement in Canada includes the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition and the Green Party of Canada. Not only were drugs decriminalized in Portugal, the entire system was reconstructed to aid those addicted. Both the reduce in law enforcement towards illicit drugs and the increase in funding towards treatment paid off greatly for Portugal. Overdose death went down by 72% while the spread of HIV went down by 94%. Canada has prioritized the war on drugs, although the method being followed does not prove effective. It might prove better to abandon this current war in favour for public health, following Portugal's lead in providing harm reduction treatment and treating the addiction as the public health crisis that it

For many years, a real push has been looming on the idea of legalizing now illegal drugs. This has become a hot debate throughout nations all over the world, from all walks of life. The dispute over the idea of decriminalizing illegal drugs is and will continue on as an ongoing conflict. In 2001, Drug decriminalization in all drugs, including cocaine and heroin, became a nationwide law in Portugal (Greenwald). Ethan Nadelman, essayist of “Think again: Drugs,” states his side of the story on the continuing criminalization of hard drugs, in which he stand to oppose. Whether it is for the good of human rights or not, decriminalizing drugs may be a good head start for a new beginning.

The drug war in the U.S. has been waged on civil fronts for over four decades and has not only proven to be not only futile but at times even more damaging to society than the drugs themselves. The once virtuous intent of this ‘war’ has been corrupted by police unions and dirty politicians who have turned it into a carefully crafted system of capitalistic enterprise, designed push their political agenda by perpetuating the myth that drugs are the primary threat to our nation. Zero tolerance laws and strict prohibition have failed to achieve their goal of eliminating the supply and demand for drugs. In contrast, legalization in the Netherlands and Europe has already been in place for several years now, and with great success. Portugal has lived with 14 years of full legalization after their government admitted to both the futility, and counter-productive failure of their drug war. Income that was used to imprison part of the population is now being used to educate, counsel, and rehabilitate those who are caught in possession of substances. The U.S. government must also come to realize that their efforts to fight this invisible war have in reducing drug use, while at the same time, escalating violence, intensifying racism, and creating broken homes and families. The best way to demolish this corrupt system is through the legalization of all class B drugs along with the use, but not the production, or trafficking of all Class A drugs.

I believe that the United States federal government should decriminalize all drugs and narcotics in order to stop wasting taxpayer dollars on excessive and expensive federally funded imprisonment, and to turn the issue of drug consumption back into a health issue, as opposed to a legal issue. The Unites States government is well known for having a massive and expensive prison system, widely populated by citizens incarcerated for nonviolent drug crimes. A legalization of drugs in American would drastically reduce crime rate and federal prison expenses. The drug issue, as we know it today in the U.S. is misclassified as a legal issue. With drug legalization, consumption of narcotics would become much safer, as addicts and users would be treated

President Ronald Reagan’s war on drugs was an absolute failure that has resulted in tens of thousands of non-violent criminals being placed in the same federal prisons as murderers and rapists. In fact, these non-violent offenders make up a little over fifty percent of the prison population. Most of the taxpayer money spent on keeping these people in prison can easily go to treating addiction had drugs simply been decriminalized. In 2001, Portugal had decriminalized all drugs and found that there were little to none adverse effects on drug usage. In fact, drug related pathologies such as STDs and drug related deaths had actually decreased (Greenwald). Some drugs such as marijuana has almost no major side effects, and the legalization and taxing of it can easily both benefit the government, and take power away from the drug cartels. Economist Milton Friedman once said, “If you look at the drug war from a purely economic point of view, the role of the government is to protect the drug

“The United States is home to less that 5 percent of the world’s population but nearly 25 percent of its prisoners, in part because of the overly harsh consequences of a drug conviction. Many of the 2.3 million people behind bars (and 5 million under criminal justice supervision) in this country are being punished for a drug offense.” (“Mass Criminalization” 1) Did you know that in the United States, we have the “largest prison population in the world’ and “more than half a million people are incarcerated for a drug law violation.” (Branson, Richard 1) By decriminalizing the usage of drugs, it would reduce the offenders criminal penalty as well as their conviction. If a citizen was caught, the state may or could take the drug they have in their possession, issue a fine or require them to seek counseling. Or we could possibly follow Portugal’s path: “If someone is found in the possession of less than a 10-day supply of anything from marijuana to heroin, he or she is sent to a three-person Commission for the Dissuasion of Drug Addiction, typically made up of a lawyer, a doctor and a social worker. The commission recommends treatment or a minor fine; otherwise, the person is sent off without any penalty. A vast majority of the time, there is no penalty.” (Aleem, Zeeshan

Decriminalization provides a solution the problems related to drugs. Decriminalization is not making drugs legal, it is treating the drug addicts as a patient instead of making them feel like they are criminals and putting them into a jail although selling drugs is still illegal. Drugs must be decriminalized because decriminalization has proven that the death rates and crime rates have decreased and the use of drugs have decreased in decriminalized countries such as Portugal, Uruguay and drugs have decriminalized in some of the states in Unites States of America.

1188). Per Hart and Ksir (2015) the government drug control efforts have made no change on drug use during the last decade. “The supplies of cocaine, heroin and marijuana have not dried up; in fact, they have increased” (Hart & Ksir, 2015, p. 71). Becker and Murphy (2013), University of Chicago economics professors, refer to the “War on Drugs” as a long and enormously destructive policy experiment that we all should push to an end. For a possible end to the “War on Drugs,” they suggest to decriminalize all drug possession like Portugal since 2001. Likewise, Hart and Ksir (2015) refers to Portugal to point out how other groups have suggested that the approach may work for the United states focusing on providing money for prevention and treatment instead on for more prisons. This has led states such as Colorado and Washington to turn against the “War on Drugs” decriminalizing marijuana making it legal not only for medical but also for recreational use.

"I think what everybody believes and agrees with, and to be frank myself, is that the current approach [to the drug trade] is not working, but it is not clear what we should do." This quote by Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, calls for action against the drug trade in Canada as well as America. The War on Drugs has been an everlasting battle that the United States has lost time and time again. A conclusion can be surmised that all drugs should be legal with some form of regulation to resolve the drug epidemic; however, others believe that the legalization of all drugs would not work. These aforementioned people against the legalization of drugs argue that because drugs are harmful, the legalization of all forms of drugs would lead to an increase in problems pertaining to the drug issue in America. Those who advocate for strict drug legislations are correct that drugs are harmful; nevertheless, there are several benefits that would arise from the legalization and decriminalization of drugs. In 2001 Portugal decriminalized drugs and has experienced a vast array of positive effects since then. The issue of prisons becoming overcrowded is becoming an apparent concern within the United States. The United States Government, on both a state and national level, expends an immense amount of money on its arduous drug control policies. Gangs and drug cartels would lose their primary revenue source as large businesses would control the decriminalized drug market. In

Nicholas Kristof writer for The New York Times since 2001 and two-time Pulitzer prize winner offers a heartbreaking, yet accurate, look into the world of drug abuse. Kristof’s writings often focus on health, poverty, and gender issues throughout the world. As drug related deaths see no decline on the horizon, many call for an end of the outdated policies established to manage the threat. In his article “How to Win a War on Drugs” Kristof compares the strategies being used by the U.S. to those of Portugal. The main takeaway is that Portugal is a shining example of how to deal with the epidemic of drug abuse effecting so many countries around the world, and how poorly America is doing comparatively.

Marijuana, hemp, Mary Jane, pot, reefer, herb, kush, sticky icky, and weed. Whatever one may refer to the drug cannabis as, it is no stranger to the typical American. With support for the legalization of marijuana growing rapidly in numbers over the years, the debate over decriminalizing the drug is more important now than ever. Over 50% of Americans now support legalizing the drug. In a random Twitter survey given out, thirty five of the forty people were for the legalization of marijuana when asked, “ Do you believe marijuana should be legalized?” Many people today believe that marijuana is not as dangerous as it has been said to be. Even the president, Barrack Obama,

Portugal is one of many cases (amongst Switzerland, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, and others) in which the state prioritized the mental health and wellbeing of their citizens over fear tactics and faulty methods of deterrence. I feel strongly that the best way to combat drug addiction is not to attack the drug itself, but rather ensure that all individuals are educated on the realities of drug use, reduce the social stigma associated with drug use, and promote therapy and rehabilitative services that are accessible to every individual without exception.

Should marijuana be legalized? The answer would vary widely depending on the circumstances and who you ask. Marijuana use is prohibited in the state of North Carolina, and is currently only legal in four states and the District of Columbia (State Marijuana Laws Map). It is hard to believe that the same government that banned the drug in the 1930’s actually encouraged the growth of the plant in the 1600’s (Guither). The antagonist against legalization claim that it is highly addicted and will lead to other drug use. Another claim is that it makes an individual violent, although there is not much data to support the allegation. I use to agree with the government and others stance on the subject matter, but I now feel that there is not much difference between Alcohol and Marijuana. As with any substance, whether it is alcohol, drugs, cigarettes or food there is a chance for addiction to occur. However, it should be an individual’s free will to make their own personal decisions.

Cannabis, formally known as marijuana is a drug obtained from the tops, stems and leaves of the hemp plant cannabis. The drug is one of the most commonly used drugs in the world. Only substances like caffeine, nicotine and alcohol are used more (“Marijuana” 1). In the U. S. where some use it to feel “high” or get an escape from reality. The drug is referred to in many ways; weed, grass, pot, and or reefer are some common names used to describe the drug (“Marijuana” 1). Like most drugs, marijuana has a very long history. People have been using the plant around the world for thousands of years. The oldest record of the marijuana plant dates back to 2727 B. C. in China where the plant was used as a medical herb for treating conditions like rheumatism, gout, malaria and even absent-mindedness (“Cannabis, Coca, & Poopy: Nature’s Addictive Plants” 1). Slowly, the plant started spreading around the world. By 1545, cannabis was starting to appear throughout the western worlds. Being introduced to South America by the Spanish to be used as fiber. The crop also had many other common uses around the world. In North America, cannabis was often used to make paper, ropes, clothing and other materials (“The Origins of Cannabis” 1).

Portugal has garnered a large amount of attention since adopting a new method to combat drug usage. They have moved to decriminalize low scale drug possession and usage instead of an incarceration of low level offenders. Many nations have desired to reevaluate their own regimen of substance control and the way abuses were handled. The Portuguese government has collected a plethora of data while the implementation of their drug governance changed. The statistics gathered have shown that current United States policies would benefit from changes in its rabid criminalization of substance abuse.