Should all drugs be legalized?
Some people suffer from stress and some drugs relieve stress.
I think drugs should be legalized because some people get really stressed and some drugs relieve that stress. Drugs also relieve pain, so some drugs if they are legalized could be used for medical purposes. So in my opinion drugs should be legalized as long as they are in an area that is suitable, and where they cannot harm others. People who disagree, just take a look at the people who smoke tobacco. Tobacco is if not a more harmful drug than a drug such as marijuana. Tobacco can't even be used for medical uses. Therefore drugs should be legalized. Aged 14.
Posted by: AnonymousProhibition = Drug cartels + gangs. Legalisation = control, tax revenue and medical help
Prohibition FUNDS drug cartels and gangs, by banning a product that is highly desirable, a black market is automatically created. Black markets are UNREGULATED, UNTAXED, UNINFORMED and UNSAFE.
Legalisation would immediately take drug revenues away from criminal gangs and allow the government to fund education and medical programs to help drug users be INFORMED about the real effects of drugs (instead of just "it fries your brains").
To actually have public information available that explains the dangers, and explains the SAFE way to take drugs would be a HUGE benefit to society. The risk involved with the criminal business model "I'll loan you a gram, and you pay me back" will disappear.
Medical help can be sought without the fear of not being covered by medical insurance, and without the fear of being criticised or interviewed by police.
Finally, the government will be able to increase their tax revenue in a massive way, which will help fund the already existing cost of curtailing drug use and people that become addicted.
Best way is education + freedom. Not lack of information + prohibition.Posted by: AnonymousLook at Portugal.
They decriminalized all drugs and legalized a whole bunch of them(not all, but most).
What happened? The addiction rate was cut in half and so did the crime rate. The transfer of any STD through needle went down i believe it was 75%.
You can't just ignore these facts!
People are so scared and ignorant about ALL drugs. They're are taught that Heroin can kill you, and any 'junkie' is evil and they lie and they will only hurt you.
False. Very. The medical benefits to Heroin are crazy. Look them up.
Also, I know junkies who are on the streets everyday. I trust their opinions because they have actually been there.
They all say that legalizing would not eliminate all the dealers(an age limit would be set), but the crime would still go down dramatically.
One credited doctor from Europe even made a statement. It's nearly impossible to overdose on Heroin. What people die from is the other street substances mixed in. If we regulated, it would be pure and overdose would barely ever be heard of.
Legalize all drugs. Make a difference.Posted by: AnonymousWAKE UP AMERICA
If a man chooses to take his life, he will grab a gun and blow his brains out. If a man chooses to get risky and gamble, he will head to Vegas and spend all his money at the roulette table without a break. What is the difference if someone will do heroin? Or methamphetamine? NONE! If someone decides they want to give hard drugs a whirl and risk their life, THAT IS THEIR CHOICE NOT THE GOVERNMENT'S! Though I can obviously agree hard drugs such as heroin meth crack cocaine PCP etc. have little to no health benefits. Legalizing these drugs will slaughter (no pun intended) crime-rates and save the government and tax payers BILLIONS of dollars. Now for (non) hard drugs such as hallucinogens and pot, really....... Does this need to be explained. There are a ridiculous amount of health benefits with pot and believe it or not hallucinogens. If this stuff is regulated, taxed, and grown by farmers. Billions of dollars into the massive hungry government pocket and millions of farming, distribution, marketing, I could on forever with the amount of jobs this could create. It is time us Americans to gain our freedom. Cut crime, save money, LEGALIZE!
Posted by: AnonymousDrugs should be legal for adults.
I believe that smoking in a public place is bad and doing drugs underage is bad, but there is a drinking age - so can't there be a drug age? Drugs are a dangerous thing and there should therefore be a purchasing cap per customer. Also, they should not be allowed to be used while someone is driving, or to be used a certain amount of time before driving, but they should be made legal for adults 21 and up just like drinking.
Posted by: AnonymousThe war on drugs is pointless.
Why have people not learned their lesson from prohibition? Banning something doesn't make it go away, it just makes it go underground, and then the more dangerous individuals begin to make a market off of it. The law doesn't prevent people from doing drugs, it just punishes the ones who do. It's a waste of money. Further more, the government has no moral justification for arresting someone who is only doing harm to themselves. If a drug addict gets high and hurts someone else as a result, punish them for that act. Otherwise, doing drugs is just like drinking; it affects you, and only you. Therefore it is unjust to punish someone for that.
Posted by: The_Chaos_HeartFreedom of choice
People who do heroine and LSD do not harm any one but themselves. There should still be laws against getting high and driving but for the most part, wether its legal or not people will all ways get the drugs. We might as well make sure people are getting what they paid for. Also it would be more helpful to send a meth addict to rehab instead of just putting them in prison and ruining their life in jail.
Posted by: AnonymousI agree completely.
In America anyone can get what ever drug they sell. Whether it's the softer drugs like weed, shrooms, and xtc or if it's hard ones like crystal meth, heroin, LSD and pills, they are always available. I say we legalize weed, shrooms and acid. I say this because I am a smoker and I can't wait till I am able to be having my fun legally and not have to worry about other people finding out about what I put into my body. I know everyone is saying it, but it's true. Who are you to tell me what can and can't go into my body. If I am getting high and doing something horrible like robbing a bank then you have a problem other then that what is the harm. We want to sit and be a giggling mess on our drugs. So why don't you let us do that? I know exactly why. It's because you're just as fooled by the government, almost as bad as the propaganda posters they put up in the 1900's. "It's the devil's harvest" get real people by the judging of hatred in this country I thing we all need to get high at least once.
Posted by: AnonymousYes, I think they should
Prohibition leads to violence. By an inevitable black market, you generate violence because conflicts between the parties involved in drug trafficking cannot be solved by legal means in the judicial system. They are forced into a twilight world in which they must take each other instead of hiring lawyers and bring the case to court.
If we legalize drugs, the United States could save $85 billion to $90 billion per year. About half is devoted to current drug policy and a half is lost in taxes that the state would have received on legal drugs. Also, we should have a choice of what we put in our bodies, like someone else stated. It's our choice, not the governments'.Posted by: AnonymousYes I think they should and everyone should mind their own business.
Out of every argument people will use "it would save and make tax dollars" " Get innocent people out of prison" I say the only thing that makes sense to me is that we live in country were dream about having freedoms. So, I ask you, What is more free than choosing how you have fun? If you break a law such as driving high, than yes, you should be persecuted. If you give Drugs to underage kids or you assault some one while on drugs, then you should be persecuted for those crimes.
Posted by: AnonymousYes, Within the Proper Regulatory Framework
People are going to do what they are going to do. If it's completely illegal you can't control any of it. If it's legal within conditions then you can hold people interested in that activity within those conditions.
For the worst sorts of drugs people should be allowed to do them, but only within specially licensed businesses run by professionals who have been trained in dealing with people on the drug, and in preventing and if necessary providing an antidote for overdose.Posted by: MasturDbtorMarijuana
In my opinion, if there was a drug to be legalized it should be Marijuana. To all of you anti-marijuana, stuck up people, come on. Have you ever known someone to smoke marijuana and turn into an abusive person? Absolutely not. Have you ever known someone to drink alcohol and be abusive? Absolutely. If you think that Marijuana is harmful, you are ignorant. Smoking tobacco does more harm to a person, than Marijuana ever could. Yet, it is perfectly legal. The cigarette smoker knows it will eventually kill them. But, Marijuana on the other hand? It can be used for medicinal purposes. Where's the harm in that? i think i've made my point.
Posted by: AnonymousProhibition= Skyrocketing gang violence
People get so offended and shocked at the idea of legalizing LSD, PCP, Cocaine, Meth and similar drugs, but the bottom line is that not only do people still use those drugs even though they are illegal, but the very existence of the mafia and gangs is due to the prohibition of drugs and alcohol.
Posted by: Frederick53i was shown a video in government class in highschool,
this video showed how fast food and even school cafeteria food is worse for you then most illegal drugs. most legal drugs are worse for you then the illegal ones, there is still plenty of propaganda and the people in charge of our country are running it to the ground and trying to make as much money off us as possible untill people start to realize whats going on here... WAKE UP PEOPLE!!! and the addicts are already addicted but there are also easier ways to get off drugs then most people know and why should an addict be put in jail where they can still get the drugs they were addicted to and when they get out they're still addicted and useually get locked up again, people also profit off how many people are put in jail. the laws should never be based on personal beliefs. wer'e allowed to smoke tobacco which paralyzes our lungs but arrested for smoking marijuana which after smoking works to rebuild ur lungs to 100% and they also say how tobacco tar will always stay in your lungs but smoking weed actually gets rid of it. Point is our country is based on lies
Posted by: anti-illuminatiYES, drugs should be legal
The prohibition of drugs is the worst solution for preventing abuse. Firstly, it brings about a black market that is corrupt and costs human lives. Secondly, it constrains people who wouldn't abuse drugs. Thirdly, prohibiting drugs is expensive. If it legalized drugs, the United States could save $85 billion to $90 billion per year. Roughly half that is spent on the current drugs policy and half that is lost in taxes that the state could have levied on legal drugs.
Posted by: AnonymousI Understand That
I understand that drugs can be harmful however if legalized the amount of drug use would decrease. Drug users are mainly people that want attention or are trying to be bad so they do drugs to prove how bad or cool they can be. By legalizing drugs they wouldnt have to prove anything because it would be avaliable for anyone to try. An just like fads the drug fad will fade away.
By: Adianna PaulPosted by: quennDrugs and harm
A lot of unnecessary harm is caused by prohibition. Let an addict get his fix and he'll be a better man than most. Say what you want about whether or not it's a good idea to live you life like that, but no good comes from calling drug users criminals; at the very least we should focus on treating addiction as an issue of therapy and rehabilitation and not punishment and incarceration.
If you're faced with overwhelming stress (and who isn't?), and you know somebody with something to make that stress instantly evaporate, you'll be tempted. It's a very human reaction. It may be a flawed and perhaps self-destructive response, but regardless its correction should be up to doctors and not cops and judges.Posted by: AnonymousThere is no difference.
Legal drugs have proven time and time again to be more dangerous than drugs that haven't be legalized or be excepted by Alcohol companies. The only reason marijuana, cocaine, heroine, etc. Are illegal is because the government wants its people to continue buying prescription drugs that don't solve the issue of stress, depression, anxiety ONLY to tell you that the drug you spent so much money on didn't work and you can file a lawsuit for issues that may impair your health. We are also dealing with a drug war that has created illegal cartels which seemed to have resulted to deaths, wrongful arrests, and separation of families.
Posted by: AnonymousFor adults only.
As adults we are responsible for our own lives and for those who want to choose to spend their days doing drugs, let them. Making all drugs legal would solve a lot of problems, some of the main ones being violence, crime, and death from over dousing on bad drugs. The drugs can be regulated for safety and only permitted in ones home for others safety. We can still have strong laws for the use of it, like alcohol, and fine or imprison anyone that breaks those laws. Alcohol and tobacco cause a huge amount of deaths every year and it is legal! You people need to wake up and stop having that "Oh it's illegal so it's bad!" kind of attitude! Do some research and come back to reality and understand that tobacco and alcohol are legal and are much worse for you than many other drugs that are illegal! In the end, like I said at the beginning, we as adults are responsible for our life and how we live it, end of story!
Posted by: Anonymousyes, drugs should be legalized because, if the drugs are made available freely then people might stop taking it.
in my opinion, most of the people take drugs because it is against the law. they like to go against the law and prove that they are greater than the law. so, if the drugs are legalized then there is the possibility of less number of people taking the drugs.drugs are also sometimes useful to cure the diseases after all the medicine that we take is also a type of drugs. so legalizing the drugs might not cause much harm.
Posted by: sushmaVictimless crimes
Victimless crimes, including those involving drugs, have no place in contemporary society.
Posted by: InVinoVeritasit shouldn't be the governments decision
People have the right to put whatever they want into their bodies. If they die from it, well then that's that. Now i know that sounds awful, but if someone wants to do meth then they are going to do meth. Just because something is illegal doesn't mean that people won't do it. the best thing we can do is educate people (mostly children) that drugs are bad (except one's that doctors use like, morphine, marijuana, and pain pills [if you know what i'm saying]) some drugs have very good medical benefits, and some can get you addicted and kill you. And if we did there would be absolutely no black drug market.
Posted by: imnotsayingimjustsayingthis might work.
I know drugs are bad and all but making them illegal is not working. As we see in many times in our society, this so called "war on drugs" is by far not working. And some people say legalizing pot will help but pot is actually a gateway drug. And as of right now it seems to be the drug of choice. But the drug of choice is always changing. For all we know one day doing heroin might be a social norm. So by legalizing drugs we might actually change some things. Think about it. If people do drugs or want to do drugs do you think making them illegal is going to do anything. Prohibition does not work. The famous example of alcohol prohibition is a great example. It caused more crime, more corruption with the police, and spent many tax dollars on fighting this hopeless "war." The same thing is happening with all illegal drugs in America today. Overall the only true way to stop harmful drug use in America is to make it a social norm not to use them. I would be glad to debate more about the topic.
Posted by: AnonymousYes for the simple reason that the government has no right to tell me what I can and can't put into my body
We'd have more problems with crime? Really? A lot of the crime we have now is spawned because drugs are illegal. Cartels, gangs, drug dealers selling drugs, drug addicts having to steal things and do other illegal activities just to make money because the price of these drugs is so inflated because they're illegal. If heroin was legalized tomorrow, how many of you would actually go out and try it? This will make addicts less afraid of retribution just for trying to get help with their problem. Why do people go to jail for being addicted to a substance? Shouldn't we get them treatment instead of sending them to prison and ruining their lives?
Posted by: AnonymousIt's our Choice to Choose.
I think it is our choice to determine what we put in our body's, not the government. As long as we do it without affecting others, and we don't drive under the influence of any drugs, then it should be legal to do any drugs that we want, because it's our bodies.
Posted by: AnonymousThe war on drugs is going no where.
The government is spending too much money on the 'war on drugs' whichis going no where...
People should be educated more about drugs at school and else where so people know what it is and if it is in use of the individual, that they can use it safely.Posted by: spongebob
LOL sushma
Really?? Do you know what's stopping thousands of people from doing drugs?? Hmm, I dunno, perhaps the LAW???
Posted by: ishallannoyyoAnyone that thinks that we should legalize all drugs is insane, because the increase in crime would be unmanageable.
I can see how someone might consider legalizing pot. But, legalizing all drugs is just a crazy idea. If America did this, then we would have even more problems with crime. In addition to this, more people would end up on welfare, because of their drug problems. Drug use should never be condoned by the government or considered socially acceptable.
Posted by: Nich0HeIPfuINo
Why should we contaminate the air others are breathing just so we can get high? It's stupid to risk the lives of other people to come by smoking drugs for our own pleasure. Shortening the lives of everyone so only some can have fun. It's just not okay.
Posted by: samantha_uAbsolutely not. Just marijuana.
The resolution is "Should all drugs be legalized?" No, ALL drugs should not be legalized. This would increase dangers on the street, secondhand smoke, immorality, the population of law-enforcement officials, and number of deaths. If I had to pick a drug to legalize, it would be marijuana; that would at least create economic growth and could help to solve other issues like murder and rape. But I have big problems with cocaine, crack, heroin, even hemp.
Posted by: youmils03NO NO NO!!
We still have many problems with smoking and alcohol. If drugs like Heroin and Cannabis are legalized it still won't suddenly make the countries drug problems just disappear.People say that legalising drugs will take the thrill out of them, so no-one will take them anymore. This just isn't true. When abortions became legal, people didn't suddenly stop having abortions. People say that we should have a right to do whatever we want with our bodies. We don't. You can't walk down the street naked, so why should you be allowed to do harmful things to it, like putting poisonous chemicals into it?? All it does it hurt you. It's just generally not a good idea. SO DON'T LEGALIZE THEM!!
Posted by: AnonymousRealistically,
It is hard to say lets legalize all drugs, I mean people would be dying on the street constantly from overdoses."The use of illicit drugs is illegal because of their intoxicating effects on the brain, damaging impact on the body, adverse impact on behavior, and potential for abuse. Their use threatens the health, welfare, and safety of all people, of users and non-users alike.
Legalization would decrease price and increase availability. Availability is a leading factor associated with increased drug use. Increased use of addictive substances leads to increased addiction. As a public health measure, statistics show that prohibition was a tremendous success.
Many drug users commit murder, child and spouse abuse, rape, property damage, assault and other violent crimes under the influence of drugs. Drug users, many of whom are unable to hold jobs, commit robberies not only to obtain drugs, but also to purchase food, shelter, clothing and other goods and services. Increased violent crime and increased numbers of criminals will result in even larger prison populations.
Legalizing drugs will not eliminate illegal trafficking of drugs, nor the violence associated with the illegal drug trade. A black market would still exist unless all psychoactive and addictive drugs in all strengths were made available to all ages in unlimited quantity.
Drug laws deter people from using drugs. Surveys indicate that the fear of getting in trouble with the law constitutes a major reason not to use drugs. Fear of the American legal system is a major concern of foreign drug lords. Drug laws have turned drug users to a drug-free lifestyle through mandatory treatment. 40% - 50% are in treatment as a result of the criminal justice system.
A study of international drug policy and its effects on countries has shown that countries with lax drug law enforcement have had an increase in drug addiction and crime. Conversely, those with strong drug policies have reduced drug use and enjoy low crime rates.
"Posted by: Center_for_RationalitySome drugs are far too addictive and harmful.
I think legalizing drugs is great for increasing freedom and choice. There are doubtless negative effects of legalizing drugs, like the increased health risk, but this is probably still better than the current situation where drugs are illegal and thus fund crime and contain unknown substances. I think most drugs should thus be legalized, but if drugs are so addictive as to substantially remove freedom and choice from individuals, as in the case of heroine, then these should perhaps remain illegal.
It's worth noting that legal drugs can still be restricted, as with alcohol, to certain age groups, and taxed to offset the potential costs to society for healthcare etc.Posted by: AnonymousWow this is what it's come to....
Has it really come to this? To all you people who think that legalization of drugs is a solution you are all ignorant and just want to make yourselves not in trouble for the filthy, pathetic, and not to mention ridiculous lives that you live with no respect for yourselves let alone others.
To the idiot who said that it helps with stress and will depreciate crime with drug cartels....That is possibly the worst argument I have ever heard 1. Human beings have inhabited this planet for thousands upon thousands of years and have NEVER needed crack, or coke, or anything for that manner to handle stress. In this day and age people have become weak and need to rely on prescriptions and/or illegal drugs to manage an emotion that has always been a part of the human genome and mental state and this is pathetic. The last thing we need to do is put more controlled substances in their hand to further damage their mental state and disrupt their brain even farther from being able to decipher things that are important and not important and make them more crazy and irrational aka stressed. 2. If drugs were legalized cartels would have even further access to obtaining or distributing with fewer hoops to jump through in order to move their product, thus making them have more money and more power, yet also being tied into the government even more than they already are for making more economic profit thus giving them more powers and therefore ruining more lives
Is this the world we want our future children and leaders living in? A world where they don't have to try or make effort and think they can solve all their problems by going to the corner and downing whatever substance will make them feel good that day. Not to mention the effect it will have on already developing addictions and mental stabilities resulting in more crime and the destruction of our society and world our ancestors worked so hard to create. I for one do not stand for this. Some idiot said wake up America and he is right but it's that other side that needs to wake up....Not us who are trying to keep us alive and safe. Get your lives right.Posted by: AnonymousI oppose legalizing all drugs, as too many people would take advantage of them and become addicts.
Legalizing all drugs has support, because some people feel it would take away the mystique behind drugs. It would make more drugs accessible to people, though, and it would take away any repercussions. Many drugs, such as heroin and cocaine, are expensive and extremely addicting. If people have the opportunity to legally try these drugs, then it may increase their chances of becoming addicts and ruining their lives.
Posted by: TMaciasI do not believe that all drugs should be legalized, since many of them can be fatal and offer absolutely no health benefits.
I do not believe that all drugs should be legalized. Some drugs, like crystal meth, are an amalgamation of products not designed for human consumption. These drugs produce their addictive effect by actually poisoning/damaging your brain and nervous system. So, I do not believe that there is any logic in legalizing this type of drug.
Posted by: ToughEfrain26