Every year our government spends billions of dollars to stop the drug problem in our country and the result has led to the overcrowding of prisons and economic losses. The drug prohibition also allows both foreign and domestic drug cartels and gangs to operate while making substantial profits.
The current situation the United States is experiencing is very similar to the prohibition placed on alcohol during the 1920’s. When the sale of alcohol was banned in the United States the country witnessed the rise of organized crime and violence relating to bootlegging and smuggling alcohol into the country. The mafia gained power and gangsters such as Al Capone became wealthy and glorified in the media. Today gangs such as the bloods and the crips are heavily involved in smuggling and dealing drugs into the country. The Wall Street Journal reports that “fees to smugglers have increased from next to nothing to as much as $6,000 a head, making the smuggling business an attractive new market for drug gangs.”[i]
Drugs are also the cause of most gang violence across the United States. D.C. police inspector Brian Bray confirmed to The Washington Post "When there's the same amount of demand and less supply, people are going to try to get what's out there, that's when you see violence on the street level. A lot of these beefs are drug-related. A lot of homicides are drug dealers fighting over turf and supply."[ii]
From an economic standpoint I believe that the legalization of drugs in the United States would prove to be beneficial. I feel that it would result in both government profits as well as the downfall to illegal drug cartels due to economic losses they would suffer. There would also likely be a reduction of crime and gang activity across the United States as well in some South American countries where these drugs cause significant violence.
This issue is a topic of debate in the political race in Maryland’s fourth district. Dr. Michael Babula is currently running for congress on the democratic side in the fourth district and he supports the legalization of drugs for both moral and economic reasons. On Dr. Babula’s website (www.babula2008.com) he states that “The United States has effectively lost the war on drugs and continues to drain important law enforcement resources away from important causes such as fighting terrorism.” Dr Babula also believes that “incarcerating large segments of America’s youth population for drug related crime will not advance society or help Maryland’s fourth congressional district reduce crime levels.” Dr. Babula’s opponent Congressman Albert Wynn has a different view on gangs and the war on drugs. Congressman Wynn supported the spending of 1.2 million for the Crossroads Joint County Gang Prevention Task Force Community Center and $2 million for the Maryland Regional Gang Initiative.
I agree with Dr. Babula on both topics. It is clear that the effort to stop drugs in our country is failing and America’s taxpayers spend billions of dollars a year pay for overcrowded prisons that have proven to be ineffective in rehabilitating convicts. Also the revenue collected from legalizing drugs can be put towards centers for addicts who seek help as well as homeland security from bigger issues such as terrorism.
[i] Millman, Joel. (2007). Politics & Economics: Politics & Economics: Shift is afoot on Mexican border; security crackdown cuts illegal crossing but aids smugglers. The Wall Street Journal. A.8
[ii] Klein, Allison & Williams, Clarence. Policing cuts into cocaine markets; In D.C., prices soar as supplies dry up. The Washington Post. B.1.
10 comments:
I agree with Justin that the legalization of drugs is an important step for our country to take. It will save the government money and enable them to fund other issues in the world such as terrorism, and being able to support our country with our own oil.
The legalization of drugs is a tantalizing concept, but I do not think that the government is ready to tackle this issue. There is too much money being made and no doubt some of this money is falling into the wrong pockets. Only when all officials and government agencies are prepared to come clean can we move forward and clean up the drug problem in this country. Just as other issues continue to plague this country drugs will continue to corrupt our world until someone takes a stand and rids our government of those who pretend to want what's best, but ultimately out to line their own pockets and sate their own egos.
I have very mixed feelings about the issue of legalization of drugs. On the one hand, a controlled drug environment would eliminate or at least reduce the involvement of the underworld and foreign traffic of drugs into the US. On the other hand, total unregulated legalization does not address the education aspect and long term reduction of drug abuse currently inflicting our country. I would be more in favor of a joint effort of some type of controlled effort, with mandatory registration of those to whom the drugs would be provided, much like a methadone program. This would take it out of the criminal environment, but not make it so accessible to the mass population.
legalization would eliminate virtually all of the black market while provide more economic growth with jobs etc. it would also help lower crime rates in problem cities.
The legalization of drugs is a very touchy subject. If it happens it will definitely stimulate the economy by providing jobs and getting rid of the black market.
Legalizing drugs would solve many problems such as gang violence, and it would allow america's youth to contribute to the economy with real jobs instead of trying to make a quick buck selling drugs.
I think legalizing drugs is an interesting idea but it is just too risky. What if the plan backfired and led to more of our country's youth being hooked on drugs? Alcohol is a good example but I feel that drugs are more addictive, more dangerous, and legalizing them just isn't worth it.
I like the idea of legalizing drugs to stimulate the economy, but lets be realistic. The way our government works it would take forever to get that accomplished nationally. Lets focus on the things that need to be solved now, like the removal of troops from Iraq.
Drugs should have been legalized already. Why is the government able to tell us what we can or cannot put into our own bodies? I should be able to drink or smoke whatever I want as long as I understand and accept the risks that come along with it.
Drugs are totally immoral and should never be legalized. The best thing we can do is continue to try to prevent teens from getting hooked into the drug scene and help support the enforcement of drug laws to stop gang violence.
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