legalize it
Eng-50
July.19.2014 Legalize it Would keeping drugs illegal and following the same failed drug polices that our government implemented decades ago help solve our problems? Did Prohibition end the use of alcohol among American’s in the 1920s? No, in fact it made things much worse for America by the rise in illegal, wide-scale distribution of alcohol, creating bigger problems like organized crime and the American mafia. In todays society we have a prohibition of drugs, which we call “the war on drugs,” and it has created an underground “black-market,” where the drug producers and dealers are handsomely paid. Drug legalization has been a heavily debatable subject and on-going issue in American society since Prohibition and is something the government should seriously consider in our future. The so called “war on drugs” has done nothing but increase our governments debt, make it easier to obtain illegal drugs, and in a way, make alcohol and tobacco seemingly harmless because they’re not illegal. The war on drugs, despite failing for over forty years, still continues to receive more and more government money. Congressman Charles B. Rangel, author of “Why Drug Legalization Should be Opposed,” argues that our country’s problems will only get worse if drugs are legalized. He writes, “If we legalize, we will be paying much more than the $30 billion per year we are now spending on direct health care costs associated with drug use.” Rangel makes a valid argument because the availability of every drug could possibly increase the overdose statistics and hospitalization among users. But his argument becomes insignificant in light of Governor Gary E. Johnson’s article, “The Case for Drug Legalization,” who believes the war on drugs has been a complete failure. He writes, “We are presently spending $50 billion per year to combat drugs. I’m talking about police, courts, and jails.” Combined, these authors state our government is spending a
July.19.2014 Legalize it Would keeping drugs illegal and following the same failed drug polices that our government implemented decades ago help solve our problems? Did Prohibition end the use of alcohol among American’s in the 1920s? No, in fact it made things much worse for America by the rise in illegal, wide-scale distribution of alcohol, creating bigger problems like organized crime and the American mafia. In todays society we have a prohibition of drugs, which we call “the war on drugs,” and it has created an underground “black-market,” where the drug producers and dealers are handsomely paid. Drug legalization has been a heavily debatable subject and on-going issue in American society since Prohibition and is something the government should seriously consider in our future. The so called “war on drugs” has done nothing but increase our governments debt, make it easier to obtain illegal drugs, and in a way, make alcohol and tobacco seemingly harmless because they’re not illegal. The war on drugs, despite failing for over forty years, still continues to receive more and more government money. Congressman Charles B. Rangel, author of “Why Drug Legalization Should be Opposed,” argues that our country’s problems will only get worse if drugs are legalized. He writes, “If we legalize, we will be paying much more than the $30 billion per year we are now spending on direct health care costs associated with drug use.” Rangel makes a valid argument because the availability of every drug could possibly increase the overdose statistics and hospitalization among users. But his argument becomes insignificant in light of Governor Gary E. Johnson’s article, “The Case for Drug Legalization,” who believes the war on drugs has been a complete failure. He writes, “We are presently spending $50 billion per year to combat drugs. I’m talking about police, courts, and jails.” Combined, these authors state our government is spending a