The Legalization Of Recreational Drugs - 1551 Words

The legalization of recreational drugs in the United States is a polarizing issue that affects every American, whether they are a drug user or not. Both sides present arguments that call for changes to federal drug policy. The pro-drug side says that the recreational use of drugs should be allowed and the law should change to legalize it. The anti-drug side says that the use of drugs should continue to be illegal and more should be done to control drug use. All side of this issue have a point they want to make and it is important to understand the verifiable facts surrounding the use of recreational drugs. BACKGROUND In 1970, Congress passed the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act, found in Title 21, Chapter 13 of the†¦show more content†¦They cite many cases where all of these issues have happened and where they could happen in the future. They view their side of the argument as a serious and major policy decision that can affect Americans for generations to come. Their first point in their favor is that while police and other law enforcement agencies are trying to enforce drug laws, minorities are disproportionately targeted. They say that minorities, especially African American males, are subject to arrest more often, are incarcerated at a higher rate and serve longer sentences in prison (â€Å"Against†, 2017). Law enforcement tends to enforce drug laws in areas that have been determined to be â€Å"high crime† and often, these areas are predominately African American communities. As the population of cities, especially the inner-city, continue to grow o ver time, the number of people imprisoned for drug offenses will continue to rise (â€Å"Against†, 2017). Their next point covers the government’s spending on the enforcement of drug policy. The DEA had a budget in 2016 of $2,080,000,000 (â€Å"DEA†, 2016). Of course, not all of this is spent on stopping people from doing recreational drugs, but any money spent, in the eyes of pro-legalization proponents, is too much. In 2015, the federal government spent $36 billion on drug enforcement across all of its agencies (â€Å"Alarming†, 2016). The United States spends around $80 billion per year on its prisons andShow MoreRelatedThe Legalization Of Recreational Drugs1807 Words   |  8 Pages2013 there was over a hundred thousand drug related crimes recorded in Canada. Some countries around the world, such as the Netherlands, have loosened their restrictions on recreational drug use in an attempt to lower crime rates in their nation. The current law in Canad a strictly prohibits the use and distribution of all recreational drugs. Many people, however, question if this is the best way to regulate drugs. Some would argue that legalizing drugs would create an economic opportunity forRead MoreShould Legalization Of Recreational Drugs Be A Great Nation?977 Words   |  4 Pagesdecrease in prisons and prisoners, legalization and decriminalization of recreational drugs are some of the core issues the US needs to strengthen to become a great nation. There is an utmost need to legalize and decriminalize recreational drug use in the US, now more than ever. The government no longer needs to intervene upon the personal rights and freedoms of adults. One should have control over the choices of his/her own life. Rather than criminalizing drug addicts they should be given a choiceRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized? Essay1223 Words   |  5 Pageseconomies of the states which have legalized recreational marijuana use for consumers over the age of 21. Many predictions were made referring to the outcome of marijuana legalization, however, most predictions made did not foretell the actual outcome. 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First, marijuana should be legalized in the US for both recreational and medicinal purposes because there is a very substantialRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?972 Words   |  4 PagesMarijuana Legalization For thousands of years, marijuana has been used for a myriad of purposes ranging from medical use to recreational use. Although small steps are being for marijuana legalization across the country, there is still a long way to go. Some folks argue that marijuana is a gateway drug and impairs judgement, causing people to act recklessly. However, extensive studies have been conducted on the effects, risks, and benefits of marijuana, and have proven marijuana to be safer thanRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1004 Words   |  5 Pagesmost people are not properly informed of the facts. Cannabis is the third most widely used recreational drug, after alcohol and tobacco (About Marijuana). Yet, it is the only contender out of those three that is not legal. While marijuana is very addictive, recreational marijuana should be legalized because of the benefits it could provide for our economy and society as a result of the loss of business for drug dealers, less arrests and freeing of space in prisons, and major tax revenue. â€Å"MarijuanaRead MoreThe Legalization Of Marijuana And Marijuana Essay1314 Words   |  6 Pagesof the bused drugs in America and the rest of the world. Interesting accumulating evidence show that the significant negative impact of this drug outweighs the positive effects. However, the medical benefits of the drug seem on the process of chemical compounds as compared to the drug itself. Medical debates show that chemical compound in marijuana are the problem as compared to the plant. The said chemical compound affects the mental and physical health of the persons abusing this drug. There haveRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1565 Words   |  7 PagesMarijuana Legalization From mandatory crop to illegal drug, cannabis has gone from revered to criminal in the course of United States history. Its fall from grace has been an education in mass hysteria, propaganda, market manipulation and greed. Fortunately, for those suffering debilitating medical conditions and those that wish to enjoy its euphoric effects alike, it appears that the pendulum is swinging in the opposite direction. The close of the 2015 legislative session revealed a potentialRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized? Essay1372 Words   |  6 PagesLegalization of Weed Growing up, everyone is told that, â€Å"Drugs are bad for you,† time and time again. Now as a kid you don’t really understand the reasoning behind it, but you listen to your authority figure regardless. I remember being told this my entire life and even to this very day. But as I got older I realized that people would still use drugs even though it’s illegal. I could never understand why someone would go against the law and jeopardize their life just to use drugs? The drug thatRead MoreThe Legalization Of Marijuana Legalization1282 Words   |  6 PagesMarijuana Legalization Initiative may be included on the ballot. The people of California will vote on whether to legalize the recreational use of cannabis for adults. The move targets at regulating the consumption of the drug and taxing it like other legalized drugs. California was the first state to legalize medical marijuana in 1996 (National Institute of Drug Abuse). The state prohibited any legal action s from being taken on patients and recognized caregivers arrested in possession of the drug. This