Last week I had a discussion with my uncle about the legalization of soft drugs. My uncle who is a Vietnam veteran has seen what drugs have done to other soldiers and some of his friends. He is a firm opponent of drug use. I myself am for the legalization of soft drugs. More and more countries are discussing about the legalization of soft drugs or further measures against drugs. The legalization of soft drugs will have a positive effect on society, but not everyone is convinced of this.
People who think soft drugs shouldn’t be legalized often use the argument that soft drugs are a danger to public health. While experience tells an opposite story. When soft drugs will be legalized, governments will be able to supervise the quality of soft drugs. The quality of the soft drugs will increase because of strict rules for production and distribution methods. This will minimize the harmful effect of the soft drugs on global health.
Opponents of the legalization of soft drugs think that people and especially teenagers will have easy access to drugs, which will lead to higher rates of school dropouts and unemployment in the future. Alcohol is a great example that when something is legal it will be less interesting for teenagers to try. The government taxes alcohol products. The money raised from the alcohol taxes is used for educational projects and anti-alcohol commercials. The same can be done with soft drugs. The Netherlands, where soft drugs are tolerated, is another great example. The rate of soft drug use isn’t higher in the Netherlands than in any other country. The U.S.A. for example, where soft drugs are prohibited, has a much higher rate of drug users and addicts. When the use of soft drugs isn’t a taboo there will be less drug use, drug abuse and drug addiction.
The government of the United States of America has an active War On Drugs policy. The U.S. government is taking drastic measures to reduce the production, distribution and use of drugs. The penalties for drug related crime are very high, compared to other countries. All this costs the government billions of dollars. The worldwide war on drugs costs even more, while this war is not very effective. People will always use drugs. Countries like the U.S.A. spend a lot of time and money on the prosecution of small-scale soft drug users. When soft drugs are legalized a lot of people will not be in violation with the law. This way the war on hard drugs can have top priority and attention.
Another argument against the legalization of soft drugs is that the crime rate will rise, because criminals will not give up a valuable source of income. Nothing is farther from the truth. When governments have control over the distribution of soft drugs the supply will rise and the street value will drop. On the one hand this means that there will be less drug traffickers and dealers because they will make less profit. With low profit less people will take the risk of getting caught. On the other hand this means that criminal and terrorist organization will be stripped of a valuable source of income. This further means that the rate of crimes committed by soft drug users will drop, because a lot more people will be able to buy the soft drugs from money earned in a legal way. When soft drugs are legalized the markets for soft drugs and hard drugs, which will stay illegal, will be separated. This means that a soft drug user will less likely get in contact with hard drugs.
There will always be supporters and opponents of the legalization of soft drugs, but the opponents are right. When soft drugs are legalized, governments will be able to regulate the quality, distribution and production. This way there will be a maximum drop of soft drugs related crime. Instead of a war on soft drugs people need proper education about drugs. This way the rate of soft drug use will not rise. All this can be funded by soft drug taxes. If you like it or not, soft drugs contribute to a better society.
Mengalvio Dompig © 2009
