Preview

The Philosophy on the Legalization of Drugs

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
618 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Philosophy on the Legalization of Drugs
The Philosophy in the Legalization of Drugs There are many controversial topics being debated about in the United States. One topic most often debated about is the legalization of drugs. Of course people have their own beliefs and opinions on the subject, but are the arguments discussed about actually valid? Is there enough evidence supporting the premises they claim? These are questions we should ask when observing the arguments people are presenting to defend their beliefs. I believe that drugs should not be legalized for several reasons, but as stated above, different people have different opinions. One of the arguments presented from the people who believe that drugs should be legalized is that the government should not interfere with people’s activities as long as it is not affecting other people’s rights. They state exactly, “As far as morality is concerned, the decision to use or not use drugs is a personal one that does not directly impinge upon the rights of others, and the government should never forbid activities that do not impinge upon the rights of others.” I believe that there are many things wrong with this argument, but the main problem here is that there is no evidence to support the premise, therefore I see it as a false premise. I don’t understand how they can say that drugs doesn’t impinge upon the rights of others when there are drug related crimes happening every day. When people are high on drugs, their minds are altered. Many times while under the influence of an illegal substance, people will commit crimes and put other people’s life in danger. This obviously affects the rights of others because people should not have to be put into danger because of other people’s “activities”. The legalization of drugs would make it more easily accessible, which in the end would result in more crimes and more people getting hurt. Another argument presented is that everything is dangerous. They state “Driving on

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    As a citizen of the United States I feel that if the drug can medically help people that have illnesses then it should be reclassified and legalized. However, I feel that their need to be rules in place for patients that use the drug so it isn’t abused. Physicians that have patients that would benefit from the drug need to ensure that the proper screenings are performed. These screening should help determine if the drug will be benfitcal and help it’s users with their…

    • 409 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Case for Decriminalizing Drugs, he takes a different approach to regarding the War on Drugs. While he feels that current drug policies have failed, his book focuses on the injustice of punitive drug laws and believes we should stop punishing people for using illicit drugs. “A law whose purpose is deterrence must always be backed by a demonstration that the law is just.” (ix) His book is presented in three chapters. Chapter one describes our present drug policies and laws and raises questions to answer whether these are just or unjust and offers his position of decriminalization as a more ethical approach to drug use. Chapter two reviews the most frequent arguments used in favor of punishing drug users and Husak believes that none of these are convincing enough to warrant enacting laws on a person’s behavior. Chapter three declares that punishing drug users is counterproductive and damaging to us…

    • 932 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The authors of this paper present an outline of the debate process and how students can effectively present their sides of a controversial subject. Personal accounts in favor of legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes are given, as well as data as to why it should not be legalized. This reference will benefit the paper because it provides real accounts from people and not just statistics.…

    • 435 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    William Bennett Drugs

    • 737 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In William J. Bennett’s argument, Drugs: Should their Sale and Use Be Legalized, he tries to persuade the readers that drugs should not be legalized. He goes on to explain the national drug policy and the intellectuals that by and large are against it but have little to contribute to the matter. The argument like he says is a little one sided, there is a whole lot to say about the national drug policy and very little to say about the intellectuals.…

    • 737 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    "The last thing we need is yet another mind-altering substance to be legalized," says John Lovell, a lobbyist for the California Peace Officers ' Association, told Time Magazine.…

    • 369 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Within the last 50 years, drug legalization has been a very hotly debated topic in the United States society. It almost seems that every "street drug" was once legal, but banned soon after its introduction in society. Illegal substances that one sees today were once synthesized and created by chemist such as LSD, ecstasy, methamphetamine, cocaine, and etc., and at some point used for medical reasons, however during many circumstances were deemed illegal by the government due to detrimental effects after prolonged usage. William Bennett's "Drugs: Should Their Sale and Use Be Legalized" targets the general American public into understanding the societal importance of upholding the nations current drug policy. Bennett starts his piece by stating, "The issue I want to address is our national drug policy and the intellectuals" (Bennett 592). Bennett specifically addresses the issue the nation, by using the pronoun "our." Also this is a "national" issue, which is also an indication that he is targeting the general American public. Bennett is clearly on the side of keeping and enforcing banning and making narcotics illegal. He is trying to win over the individuals who are in between the issue, and of course the liberals who are opposed to the nation's drug policy.…

    • 1053 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In “Against the Legalization of Drugs,” by Peter de Marneffe, the argument that the use and possession of drugs needs to be decriminalized is made, because of the belief that the criminalization of drug use and possession violates the rights of citizens. In this paper, I will defend de Marneffe’s position by refuting a possible objection. Contrarians may claim that decriminalizing drugs will inevitably lead individuals to try harder and more dangerous drugs.…

    • 573 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In my opinion, the proposed approach to the criminalization of drugs would not be feasible. I believe this because federal drug laws are usually questionable, drug prohibition creates more opportunity for crime to occur, and the economical aspect of money (in the billions) being funneled towards criminal businesses and or organizations.…

    • 406 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    One of the arguments against legalization of drugs is what we have all grown up hearing which is “drugs are bad”. This reason has been said throughout most of our life and is what we learn in schools. However, legal drugs like alcohol and tobacco have caused more harm than illegal drugs. Another argument against legalization is that it would send mix signals to children. Drugs are bad and “just say no” have been sayings we have all learned growing up. However, if drugs were suddenly legal children would be confused. The rates of use can fluctuate in high school students with their confusion about drugs. Another argument against legalizing drugs is that the drug epidemic for late 1800s to 1900s ended because of society’s shift in attitude…

    • 359 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    References: DEA Briefs & Background, Drugs and Drug Abuse, Drug Descriptions, Drug Trafficking in the…

    • 1558 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Legalization of Marijuana

    • 3597 Words
    • 15 Pages

    Several topics in modern day society cause controversy, but one topic that out ranks them all is the legalization of marijuana. The main argument is whether not marijuana should be treated the same as already legalized drugs, such as tobacco and alcohol. Many Americans use marijuana illegally; the people using the drug range from the age of teens to even adults in their eighties. Marijuana is considered by most, especially in legal terms, as a dangerous drug. Although the drug is seen as such, many still continue to use it and argue it should be legalized for several reasons. Both citizens and government officials alike debate this topic. To successfully develop and argument for the legalization of marijuana the topic must be defined, the history of the topic must be unveiled, an argument must be made, and a good solution should be proposed. Yes, both sides of the argument both have well supported positions, but marijuana should be legalized by the United States government because the facts supporting legalization far outweigh the arguments keeping the drug as it is.…

    • 3597 Words
    • 15 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Decriminalizing Drugs

    • 709 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Decrimialization-n. The repeal or amendment (undoing) of statutes which made certain acts criminal, so that those acts no longer are crimesor subject to prosecution.…

    • 709 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the article, (Gray, 2012); discusses the impossibility of prohibition to ever be enforced, specifically in the means of drugs. As a former judge, Gray has insight into exactly how many people are incarcerated due to the mental disease of drug addiction, and how criminalizing their use does everything but aid our citizens. As the current USA's drug policy has only worsened the problem since 1970, he suggests to create a new policy with ten major goals in mind, focusing on decreasing the harm illicit substances have on our population as well as the harm drug money has on the world. There are logical reasonings given that support that legalizing the distribution of drugs by the government would put dangerous dealers out of business and make…

    • 592 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Drug Legalization

    • 1260 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Everyone will agree that the drug issue in America is prominent. After so many drug related crimes, deaths, and federal spending, debates spur with opposing views in the political arena on how to rectify the problem. One view on solving the problem according to Judge James P. Gray's proposal is to legalize drugs or as legalization advocates call it "harm reduction." This approach believes that drugs use is inevitable and the only way to solve the drug problem is through the legalization of harmful and habit forming drugs such as, cocaine, heroine, and marijuana. Through Legalization, James P. Gray believes drug use and drug related crime rates will decrease. After so many drug related deaths and crimes, America has come too far with the successful War on Drugs to consider surrendering to legalization and committing national suicide.…

    • 1260 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    One of the many problems in our nation today is the use of illegal drugs. Being fought against our own citizens, a national effort to eliminate drug production and use has failed leaving in its wake complete chaos. Assault, property crime, murder, corruption and many other things are burning through society fueled by the drug war's policies. In addition to these problems there are the initial problems that illegal drug users inflict on themselves and society; the same ones the drug war was supposed to eliminate. Prohibition is an old idea that is not attainable in a democratic society that values individual rights. Experiments with the prohibition of alcohol failed miserably and cost many people their lives. A form of regulated legalization of drugs, such as marijuana would be a middle ground that recognizes the inevitability of drug use and strives to make it as safe as possible.…

    • 786 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays