The Question of Legalizing Drugs
Drug legalization is an enduring question that presently faces our scholars. This issue embraces two positions: drugs should not be legalized and drugs should be legalized. These two positions contain an array of angles that supports each issue. This brief of the issues enables one to consider the strengths and weakness of each argument, become aware of the grounds of disagreement and agreement and ultimately form an opinion based upon the positions stated within the articles. In the article "Against the Legalization of Drugs", by James Q. Wilson, the current status of drugs is supported. Wilson believes if a drug such as heroin were legalized there would be no financial or medical reason to avoid heroin usage; therefore, anybody could afford it (367). Wilson stated that during 1960's, British physicians were allowed to prescribe heroin to addicts until the number of addicts increased fivefold. He argued that cocaine is not a "victimless crime." Addicts victimize children by neglect and spouses by not providing (370). Wilson upholds that illegality of drugs increases crime because users need to pay for their habit (372). He believes the benefit of illegal drugs is it forces patien
In the article "A War for the Surgeon General, not the Attorney General," by Kurt Schmoke, legalization of drugs was supported in his argument for decriminalization. Schmoke agrees with Wilson saying that drug users are committing vast amounts of crime (379). He argues that the current criminal-justice system cannot handle the drug-related cases because there is no placement for the drug offenders now being arrested. He states that with less crowded prisons, there will be less pressure on prosecutors to plea bargain with the nondrug, real criminals (380). Schmoke believes decriminalization will stop street hustlers from persuading children into "easy money," and will ultimately free up valuable criminal-justice resources (382). Like Bennett, Schmoke sees an important lesson to be learned from the mistakes of Prohibition. However, Bennett interprets Prohibition differently and thinks we need to educate society as to the dangers of drug use (383). ts who enter under legal compulsion to complete their treatment due to the pressure and drug-education programs in the schools (374). Wilson is convinced the difference between nicotine and cocaine is that while tobacco shortens one's life, cocaine debase it and destroys the addicts humanity (375).
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Approximate Word count = 1396
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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