Drugs are a major influential force in our country today. The problem has gotten so out of hand
that many options are being considered to control it or even solve it. Ending the drug war seems
to be a bit impossible. The war on drugs seems to be accomplishing a lot but this is not true.
Different options need to be considered. Legalization is an option that hasn't gotten a chance but
should be given one. Although many people feel that legalizing marijuana would increase the
amount of use, marijuana should be legalized because it will reduce the great amounts of money
spent on enforcement and it will increase our country's revenue. There are also many benefits that
can be uncovered to help people if legalization of marijuana is given a chance.
Legalizing marijuana would increase our economy's revenue. During Prohibition alcohol use was
still sold and used, but people were doing it illegally. The 21st amendment repealed prohibition
and alcohol taxes were increased. The same thing should happen with drugs. Marijuana should be
taxed heavily to increase our revenue. Marijuana and other drugs would be made by the same
people who make aspirin so the quality would be assured, containing no poisons or adulterants.
Sterile hypodermic needles will be readily available at corner drug stores. These could be taxed
heavily because the users will be assured of "clean drugs."
Making drugs legal will reduce the great amounts of money spent on enforcement every year.
Drug dealers and users are one step ahead on the enforcement process. If one drug lord is caught,
another one will show up somewhere else. We cannot win. "In 1987, 10 billion dollars were spent
alone just on enforcing drug laws. Drugs accounted for about 40 percent of all felony indictments
in the New York City courts in 1989. This figure is quadruple what it was in 1985. . Forty percent
of the people in federal prison are drug law violators" (Long...