Arguments Against and for Drug Legalization

Team 1

Legalization of drugs

MGT 331

                                 Arguments against and for drug legalization

The debate for legalizing all forms of illegal drugs has been an extremely controversial issue amongst U.S. citizens. Illegal substances such as cocaine, crack, heroin, and marijuana are an extremely controversial issue due to the damaging effects they have upon health on user and in some cased have led to death. Typically any product or service that has such a significant demand has a steady, and legal market, to supply such demands. However, the current law in the United States do not allow for such legal markets, which create illegal black markets. The government has been fighting against such demands since its formation of the “War on Drugs” in 1971 established by President Richard Nixon. This initiative has cost both the United States government and its tax payers millions of dollars and helped solidify a black market of illegal supply to satisfy the demand. Many question whether the United States should legalize drugs.

A prime example of why the war on drugs has received the results that it has can be found in the Prohibition era of 1928. During this time “Prohibition’s supporters were initially surprised by what did not come to pass during the dry era… It cost federal government a total of $11 billion in lost tax revenue…growth of the illegal liquor trade under Prohibition made criminals of millions of Americans”^[1]. The sale, consumption, distribution, and importation of alcohol within this time was banned on the Federal level creating hardships for both businesses owners and its employees who depended on alcohol sales. This disbandment and outlawing of alcohol gave rise to illegal distributers who were more than happy to fill the growing demand within the United Sates. Although crime had risen and more people were being imprisoned within this time, most of the political officials and Prohibition supporters still believed that this action was necessary. The Church and its members also held say in this action because they believed that alcohol, as a substance would eventually shatter the moral and ethical values for family within the country.

Many illegal drugs are a serious health concern and can even lead to death.  Research has proven that “increasing the availability of illegal drugs can lead to increased use, and growth in the consequences of that use…Increase consumption leads to higher public health and financial costs for society… There is also a much higher social cost than the revenue they generate… the social cost of alcohol for example is estimated to be more than 15 times damaging than the revenue gained by taxation  ” ^[2].  This study provided an opposing opinion contrary to what many voters in the United States believe to be a taxable source of revenue for the United States. A study done by White House researchers shows that legalizing all drugs for revenue generation would prove to not be sufficient to combat the public issues that would ensue. The cost to public health and safety in this scenario would create an ethical dilemma for policy makers. In this decision they would be forced to choose between the financial well-being of the country and the health of its citizens.  However challenging this task may be it is clear form past policies such as the repeal of the Prohibition act of 1933, which provided an insight into the consequences of changing or value system as a country.