Legalization of Drugs: Pros & Cons

chillibreeze writer — Roshni Nair

“Rules are not necessarily sacred. Principles are.”
-Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was a wise man. He was probably well aware of the ‘reverse psychology’ effects of rules and regulations that could not be dissected under a microscope, as compared to the understanding one obtains and learns to eventually accept when realizing the importance of self discipline and developing a mature outlook towards life.

What is it about stringent regulations and widely accepted societal norms that make people want to break out of the ‘safe zone’ and experiment when no one is there to punish them for doing so? What is it about the word ‘no’ that makes people want to explore the ‘yes’? It is the basic human desire to experiment or explore the forbidden.

This statement, however, must not be mistaken to be a blanket endorsement for legalization of drugs/psychotropic substances. There are two sides to a coin, and also two sides for every debate. My aim is to be as fair as possible to both sides and form a logical (in my view) conclusion thereafter.

First, the ‘cons’

Wayne Roques, a Drug Enforcement Agency spokesman in the USA stated: "Drug policies which legalize drugs would decimate the inner cities and gravely wound the suburban populations.... Legalization is a morally and intellectually bankrupt concept."

Now, if we get straight down to the facts put forth by government bodies, academic research institutions and doctors, drugs- both plant based and chemical/synthetic- are a big no-no even when they are compared to mass killers like tobacco, alcohol, and prescription drugs like Oxycontin, Xanax, Morphine and so on. Advocates who oppose drug legalization persist in their arguments that because harmful things like alcohol and cigarettes are legal, it doesn’t give their opponents the fodder to push for the legalization of other harmful substances. A dose of cocaine or ‘crack’ is far more dangerous than a swig of alcohol, and its potency level exceeds that of cigarettes. The same goes for the dreaded street drug ‘crystal meth’ (Methamphetamine), heroin, and the new party drug on the Indian scene - yaba.

Moreover, the mixing of drugs with one another- such as combining marijuana with heroin, cocaine, and the like- can lead to drastic and often irreversible effects. The world’s favourite drug, marijuana has not been spared when it comes to the war against ‘hard drugs’ either; there have been numerous studies which seem to indicate that the plant is downright harmful and has effects ranging from a negative impact on the immune system to slowing down motor tasks and resulting in short term memory loss.

If legalization sees the light of day, then who or what can guarantee that drug users will use these drugs wisely and not take toxic and often lethal combinations of the same? Can one guarantee that pot smokers, psychedelic shroom enthusiasts and ‘acid jumpers’ will be able to drive their vehicles safely while they are under the influence or on a high?

Can black market and illegal drug traffickers become productive citizens just because the substances they sell are now permissible under law? That is a serious question to consider, given that the Governments will have to accommodate as many ‘decent’ jobs for hundreds of past drug offenders and dealers.

History shows that legalization of drugs does not always work if it is not thought over and implemented in a manner that will be productive to society. For example, opium was legalized in China in the earlier 19th century; that decision resulted in approximately 90 million addicts, and it took decades repair the damage. Today, China has some of the strictest anti drug laws ever, and one would have to pay dearly with his/her freedom if they made the mistake of trying to sneak dope into the nation.

Current medical treatments have also not always been able to save the lives of those who chose to go overboard with ‘hard drugs’. So for example, if cocaine becomes legalized and its use rises from about 1 million to 50 million, then an overwhelming number of users would be in need of treatment for addiction- without the prospect of a complete ‘cure’ in sight. Do we have the infrastructure and the means to and pay medical attention to hundreds of addicts almost every day because they choose to cross the line in the name of getting high?

Now, the ‘pros’

Pro-legalization activists and groups stress that the legalization of drugs would prevent the eroding of civil liberties, reduce crime rates, burn a hole in illegal drug traffickers’ pockets, and utilize taxpayer money for purposes such as development and infrastructure- money which is otherwise pumped into maintaining and exercising drug enforcement laws. It is an important point to consider that violent street crimes would be greatly reduced, and that drug cartels all around the world would be rendered severely handicapped in their efforts to tie up with arms dealers and terrorists, and secretly fund prostitution and people trafficking rackets. The ‘goons’ that depend on a life of shady drug dealing will be forced to seek legitimate jobs, thus ‘cleaning up’ society to a large extent and also reducing the number of deaths associated with infected intravenous needles, since such syringes would be produced by the government or the bodies that have been given the permission to hand them out to individuals.

Also, when drugs are legalized, law abiding people will no longer be daunted by the prospect of manufacturing drugs in an otherwise illegal market- thereby lowering the prices of narcotics due to the increase of supply and a corresponding rise in demand.

A case in point is the infamous Prohibition era in the USA in the 1920s, where alcohol was declared an illegal substance and the crime rate in society thereafter skyrocketed, thanks to the birth of the Mafioso who used this opportunity to mine gold and form a black market centered around the manufacturing and sales of booze to many err… thirsty Americans. Another case applicable here is the dry state of Gujarat, which is home to numerous illicit liquor dens and a place where the sale of alcohol thrives behind closed doors. This is indeed bootlegger haven.

When the Prohibition Act in the USA was later repealed, alcohol related crime rates plunged and the profits enjoyed by mafia dens were next to nothing, forcing mobsters to look for jobs elsewhere and resulting in the disbanding of some Mafioso families.

A very strong case is being made in countries all over to legalize marijuana, more so over the past few decades where independent studies have shown that certain chemical components in hemp (the seed content of cannabis plants) as well as other parts of the plant like the flowers and stems contain active anti-carcinogenic compounds that fight cancer cells. Thousands have deemed it the ‘wonder drug because of various research studies the world over indicating that THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol), an active ingredient in naturally growing medical cannabis can fight diseases ranging from Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, HIV/AIDS, migraine and even opioid dependence. What is even more surprising is that there are studies being conducted by the Albert Hofmann Foundation and other independent scientists pointing to the possible health benefits of demonized drugs like LSD and ecstacy (as per the recent article that appeared in the UK publication The Guardian). There are some who insist that psychedelic drugs are good for you if used correctly, and provided the said drugs do not fall in the wrong hands.

It is important to keep an open mind while researching and educating oneself about the health benefits of banned substances, simply because there are a lot of potential cures for many diseases in the world- especially when it comes to plants and herbs which form the basis in Ayurveda, Chinese and Native American medicine; allopathy has consistently looked down upon natural medicine and strived to push their products on shelves and in homes by an organized pharmaceutical network dubbed ‘the notorious Big Pharma’. Moreover, the use of marijuana, psychedelic mushrooms and the Native American favourite ayahuasca have been a part of traditional and ancient cultures for millennia, with India being well known for its fondness for ganja, charas and bhang during religious festivals. Government regulated cannabis shops are commonplace in Varanasi and Haridwar, and marijuana related crime in India is not as rampant as in the West. Therefore, legalization supporters find no reason for naturally occurring psychotropic substances to be banned when equally or more addictive medicines can be bought over the counter under the guise of allopathy.

Conclusion

After having familiarized myself with both the ‘pros’ and ‘cons’ of the legalization of narcotics, I have come to believe that with the right, and productive regulatory measures including taxation, it is possible to dampen irresponsible behavior related to drug use and prohibit offenses like driving under the influence while still legalizing drugs in the country. This makes more sense than absolute prohibition because doing so would destruct the black market that operates from our borders and beyond in places in Kathmandu and neighbouring Myanmar. This approach also allows those who believe they benefit from drug use to do so, as long as they do not harm others.

Nations like The Netherlands and those in Latin America have successfully legalized marijuana while enforcing strict rules curbing excessive usage and growing the plant indoors. Coffee shops in The Netherlands freely sell and distribute cannabis to those who are able to identify themselves as being 21 or above; yet if these smokers are found to be driving under the influence or have more than the allowed limit on their person, a hefty fine is charged and offenders can also be jailed for violating the law.

Puritanical policies have done us no good; from the USA to Thailand, strict laws have played no major role in the fight against drugs. It has, instead, led to rampant crime and illegal organizations which secretly fund much of the activities that plague us today- like terrorism and even underage prostitution. Keeping an open, but practical mind would do wonders for us and greatly reduce the cancerous growths that have eaten into society for decades if legalization is carried forward.

Many legalization enthusiasts are vocal in their call for legalizing all drugs and not just marijuana, because if the latter is exercised, there would still be a black market for other ‘hard drugs’and as such- legalizing just one drug would serve no purpose in fighting illicit activities and crimes. However, I personally feel it would be more than enough to completely legalize cannabis and other naturally occurring psychotropic plants since these are already consumed on a relatively large scale in India, with no deadly repercussions. Whether substances like ecstacy, yaba and heroin should also be legalized is another matter altogether because they haven’t been shown to have the benefits marijuana does- yet. However, I would not rule out the possibility since many findings seem to indicate that previously banned substances may not be as detrimental to us as previously believed- so long as we exercise self discipline and discretion when using these substances.

This can only be complemented with competent laws that rightly grant us our civil liberties, yet seek to ensure that one man’s choice to exercise his freedom does not adversely effect another.

“The golden rule is that there are no golden rules.”
-George Bernard Shaw

Chillibreeze's disclaimer: This is a contributed article and was published on Chillibreeze in November, 2009. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article. The relevance of the facts and figures cited (if any) could change after a period of time.

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