Drug Laws
It is obvious that illegal drugs have become a major cause for concern in North America. It is becoming increasingly difficult to fight the war on drugs since many substances are readily available to anyone who can afford them. According to the PFDA, Partnership for a Drug-Free America, the average age teens first use inhalants is thirteen. This statistic is mind-boggling and surely something must be done. Since Canada tends to follow America's example, the drug problem in the United States affects Canadians as well. What is the clean-cut solution? There are many advocates for drug legalization and many people feel that legalization will end all drug-related crimes. Yet, this issue has been debated to death and there is no need to beat a dead horse. Instead, it is more advantageous to examine the many other viable options, rather than looking at the old argument of drug "legalization." Therefore, the real question is - "What steps should America take to fix its growing drug problem?" and there are actually five main areas to consider - adolescent drug use, drug offenses/crimes, the drug laws themselves, foreign drug trade, and drug abuse. By looking at these five issues in detail and considering possible solutions, an overall
Massing, Michael. "It's Time for Realism." The Nation 20 September 1999: 11-15 ther the severity of the penalties nor the government campaign to educate people about the danger of drugs has stopped drug use or abuse. If a person convicted of growing marijuana plants can serve more time than someone convicted of rape, and if possessing or selling 650 grams of cocaine or heroin in Michigan, even if it is a first-time offense, can bring a sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole, the drug laws seem unfair to many, and the penalties too harsh. (Terkel, 1997, p. 38) Laws are supposed to keep society's members from harming each other, and to punish those who inflict harm. It doesn't make sense to enact enough laws to govern all of human behavior. How many people want to live in a society in which every single act is regulated? Vincent Bugliosi, a former prosecutor, explains how the law has two classifications of crime. The first, Malum in se is 'a wrong itself.' This is a crime resulting from morally reprehensible behavior such as rape, murder, and ! Currie, Elliott. "Yes, Treatment, But..." The Nation 20 September 1999: 18-19 o rehab centers for therapy. Is this the right course of action? Why is excessive drug use not on the same level as excessive alcohol consumption? Kurt Schmoke, a supporter of "medicalization", feels that 'drug abuse' is primarily a public health problem and not primarily a criminal justice problem." (The Nation, 1999, p. 22) The following case is an example in which jail time is not the best course of action. "Jackie, who wanted to be known only by her first name, is 37 years old and looks twenty years older. She has five children and uses between $50 and $200 worth of heroin and cocaine a day. She's been in jail five times, for soliciting prostitution and for shoplifting. She spoke with evident anguish about this - about the jobs she has lost, about 'what I put my parents through.' When asked about treatment, she response was, 'Oh yes. If I could right this minute, yes I would. Yes I would. Next time I get the chance to get into treatment...' and then her voice trailed off." (! Gray, Mike. "Perils of Prohibition." The Nation 20 September 1999: 16-19 Bugliosi, T. Vincent. The Phoenix Solution: Getting Serious About Winning America's
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Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)
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