The Drug Debate Essay Research Paper The

The Drug Debate Essay, Research Paper

The Drug Debate

For over twenty old ages the drug argument has been argued over and over. The drug war in the United States has been historically seen as a dearly-won, yet necessary constituent of public policy ; a policy that has been under significant political fire for old ages. As we enter a new century, many are reconsidering their feelings towards the drug war. Critics cite the one million millions of dollars spent every twelvemonth every bit good as the overruning prison job as grounds to cut back, and even legalise some or all recreational drugs. Those who are in favour of the war on drugs promote its support and continuance because of the sensed nexus between drugs and offense, and the damaging wellness effects and medical economic impact that illegal drugs have on the organic structure. There is a turning tendency among Americans that is forcing for the legalisation or, at least, the ordinance of drugs by the authorities. However, the consensus in American society is to maintain drugs illegal and these doctrines are evidenced in the political policies of America. By taking a expression at the attack of these policies, the pros and cons of drug legalisation can be assessed.

The concern of the populace and politicians has made for a celebrated history in the American drug war. To better understand the pros and cons of legalisation, an apprehension of the history of the American drug war must foremost be accomplished with a description of this issue. The beginning of the American war on drugs foremost began with the passing of the Harrison Act in 1914. Public force per unit area for national controls over narcotic and cocaine gross revenues eventually led to the Harrison Act of 1914. The act required the payment of a little revenue enhancement every clip a drug changed custodies, from the maker down to the physician or druggist. The authorities used revenue enhancements to command handiness and sale of drugs. The act besides needed enrollment of all doctors and druggists and made opiates and cocaine available merely by prescription. In 1919, the act was expanded to forestall doctors from freely ordering addictive opiates. On the heels of the curtailing statute law in 1919 came the 18th Amendment in 1920, which began prohibition. At this clip, intoxicant was made an illegal substance merely as narcotics where made illegal six old ages before by the Harrison Act. The coming of the Jones-Miller act in 1922 furthered the limitations on illicitly obtained narcotics such as diacetylmorphine and opium ( Hamid, 1998: 88 ) . Marijuana, a drug at the centre of the legalisation statement, has been used as a medical specialty and an alcohol for 1000s of old ages in many parts of the universe. Marijuana was non originally included in the Harrison Act but achieved illegal position on its ain. In the United States, province and local Torahs have prohibited marihuana usage since the early 1900? s, and by federal jurisprudence since 1937. The war on drugs continued throughout the 20th century and remained at the head of public sentiment. ? Concern over the usage and maltreatment of illegal drug

s remained critical throughout the 1990? s. In fact, irrespective of political association and political orientation, socioeconomic position and ethnicity, or geographical location and occupational position, most Americans continue to rank? drugs? among the major jobs confronting the state? ( Inciardi, 1999: 1 ) . This enormous public concern over drug maltreatment in the United States has made it a favourite focal point in the policy steps of politicians. ? President Nixon declared triumph in the war on drugs in 1973. More late, President George Bush has opined that at least we are doing advancement. Despite the optimism of our leaders, the war on drugs swots on—as it has for most of the 20th century? ( Benjamin, 1991: seven ) . Many have stated that the war on drugs is a failure and is simply a waste of taxpayers? money ; the statistics still prove that although the United States has attempted to piece the best drug undertaking force in the universe but continues to neglect. ? The United States has 5 per centum of the universe? s population but consumes 60 per centum of its illicit drugs. Our hard-won advancement in race dealingss is threatened by the perceptual experience of many African americans that the drug war is a racialist secret plan. Our constabulary, tribunals and prisons are inundated by a inundation of drug instances. Our civil autonomies are being eroded? ( Eldredge, 1998: eleven ) . Despite this sensed failure, the United States and its new leaders continue to pour money into this losing conflict. ? During the summer of 1997, President Bill Clinton outlined a monolithic drug scheme for the coming financial twelvemonth. At the bosom of his program was an unprecedented budget of $ 16 billion to finance the state? s war against drug maltreatment. The president? s drug control program relied to a great extent on a $ 350 million advertisement run that would- if matched by the private sector? bombard immature people with anti-drug messages during prime-time telecasting? ( Lyman, 1998: 3 ) . The drug war began with a rigorous statute law at the bend of the century. By the terminal of the century, the legislative restrictiveness has grown, as has the economic prosperity of the drug black market. Now strategies appear to non merely implement the statute law and increase its penalties, but to utilize advertisement as a scheme to control the job. The history of the drug war has taken many bends, but after a century of failure, many begin to see the pros and cons of legalisation.

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