Against Legalization or Decriminalization of Drugs
- Details
- Category: Position Statements and Resolutions
- Published: 01 August 1994
The legalization or decriminalization of drugs would make harmful, psychoactive, and addictive substances affordable, available, convenient, and marketable. It would expand the use of drugs. It would remove the social stigma attached to illicit drug use, and would send a message of tolerance for drug use, especially to youth.
Background:
Drug legalization or decriminalization is opposed by a vast majority of Americans and people around the world. Leaders in drug prevention, education, treatment, and law enforcement adamantly oppose it, as do many political leaders. However, pro-drug advocacy groups, who support the permissive use of illicit drugs, although small in number, are making headlines. They are influencing legislation and having a significant impact on the national policy debate in the United States and in other countries. The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) is the oldest drug user lobby in the U.S. It has strong ties to the Libertarian party, the Drug Policy Foundation, and the American Civil Liberties Union. These groups use a variety of strategies which range from outright legalization to de facto legalization under the guise of "medicalization," "harm reduction," crime reduction, hem/marijuana for the environment, free needle distribution to addicts, marijuana cigarettes as medicine, and controlled legalization through taxation.
Rationale:
The use of illicit drugs is illegal because of their intoxicating effects on the brain, damaging impact on the body, adverse impact on behavior, and potential for abuse. Their use threatens the health, welfare, and safety of all people, of users and non-users alike.
Legalization would decrease price and increase availability. Availability is a leading factor associated with increased drug use. Increased use of addictive substances leads to increased addiction. As a public health measure, statistics show that prohibition was a tremendous success.
Many drug users commit murder, child and spouse abuse, rape, property damage, assault and other violent crimes under the influence of drugs. Drug users, many of whom are unable to hold jobs, commit robberies not only to obtain drugs, but also to purchase food, shelter, clothing and other goods and services. Increased violent crime and increased numbers of criminals will result in even larger prison populations.
Legalizing drugs will not eliminate illegal trafficking of drugs, nor the violence associated with the illegal drug trade. A black market would still exist unless all psychoactive and addictive drugs in all strengths were made available to all ages in unlimited quantity.
Drug laws deter people from using drugs. Surveys indicate that the fear of getting in trouble with the law constitutes a major reason not to use drugs. Fear of the American legal system is a major concern of foreign drug lords. Drug laws have turned drug users to a drug-free lifestyle through mandatory treatment. 40% - 50% are in treatment as a result of the criminal justice system.
A study of international drug policy and its effects on countries has shown that countries with lax drug law enforcement have had an increase in drug addiction and crime. Conversely, those with strong drug policies have reduced drug use and enjoy low crime rates.
The United States and many countries would be in violation of international treaty if they created a legal market in cocaine, marijuana, and other drugs. The U.S. is a signatory to the Single Convention on Narcotics & the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, and has agreed with other members of the United Nations to control and penalize drug manufacturing, trafficking, and use. 112 nations recently reaffirmed their commitment to strong drug laws.
COPYRIGHT: Permission is granted to reproduce this article,
provided credit is given to Drug Watch International.
References: Against Legalization
A Restrictive Drug Policy: The Swedish Experience, Swedish National Institute of Public Health, Stockholm, 1993.
"Arguments Against Legalizing Drugs and A Proposed Solution," Drug Abuse Update, National Drug Information Center of Families in Action and the Scott Newman Center, No. 26, Atlanta, GA, Sept. 1988.
"Arguments Against the Legalization of Drugs," Campuses Without Drugs International, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA
Brown, Dr. Lee, Dir. of Office of National Drug Control Policy, "Eight Myths About Drugs," Presented at the Conference on Crime, Drugs, Health and Prohibition, Harvard Law School May 21, 1994.
Caltrider, William R., Jr., "The Snare and Delusion of Legalization," Presented to the Demand Reduction Symposium, Department of Justice, DEA, Arlington, VA. January 27, 1994.
"Drug Legalization: Myths & Misconceptions," DEA, Demand Reduction Office, Seattle, WA.
Dupont, Robert L. MD and Ronald L. Goldfarb, Esq., "The Case Against Legalizing Drugs: The Delusion of Just Saying Yes," Committees of Correspondence Newsletter, 57 Conant St., Danvers, MA.
"Forces at Work to Legalize Drugs in Europe," Hassela Nordic Network Newspaper, Hassela, Sweden , Volume 1, Issue 1 October 1993.
Gaetano, Ron, R.Ph, "Making it Legal Won't Make it Less Lethal," Health for ALL, Americans Against Legalization, Genesis Center, Union, N.J. 1990.
"Issues and Comments to Respond to Legalization of Illegal Drugs," DEA May, 1988.
"Legalize Drugs? No!," Drug Abuse Update, National Drug Information Center of Families in Action and the Scott Newman Center, Number 27, Atlanta, GA. December 1988.
"Legalizing Drugs is Not the Answer," Citizens for A Drug-Free Oregon, Portland, Oregon. 1988.
"Legalization: Panacea or Pandora's Box," White Paper #1, Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, Columbia University, NY, September 1995.
Mann, Peggy, "Reasons to Oppose Legalizing Illegal Drugs," Committees of Correspondence Newsletter, 57 Conant St. Danvers, MA. 01923. September 1988.
"More Arguments Against Legalization," Drug Abuse Update, National Families in Action and the Scott Newman Center, No. 33, Atlanta, GA. June 1990.
Nahas, Gabriel G. MD, PhD, "The Decline of Drugged Nations," Wall St. Journal, July 11, 1988.
Peterson, Robert, Esq., "Legalization: The Myth Exposed," Searching for Alternatives: Drug Control Policy in the United States, Hoover Institution Press, Stanford, CA., 1991.
Position Paper in Opposition to the Legalization of Drugs. Published originally by the Regional Drug Initiative, Portland, OR, September 1990. Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, Alexandria , VA; revised September 1993.
Position Statement Against the Legalization of Drugs, PRIDE, Atlanta, GA, 1990.
"Reasons Not To Legalize Drugs: A Compilation of Articles," Committees of Correspondence Newsletter, 57 Conant St., Danvers, MA. 01923.
Recommendations Regarding Legalization of Drugs, White House Conference for A Drug-Free America Final Report, June 1988.
Resolution Against the Legalization of Drugs, The National Federation of Parents for Drug Free Youth, 1159-B Southtown Square, St. Louis, MO. 63123.
Roques, Wayne, "Ten Compelling Reasons Not To Legalize Drugs,” DEA, Demand Reduction Office, Miami Division, 1993.
Schwartz, Richard, MD, "Prohibition, 1920 to 1933: An Overview of Its Effects on Public Health and the Economy," Southern Medical Journal, Vol. 85, No. 4 April 1992.
"Seven Arguments Against Drug Legalization," EURAD News, Lomma Sweden, Spring 1993.
Speaking Out Against Drug Legalization, U.S. Department of Justice, DEA, 1994.
"Tacking Drugs Together:" A consultation document on a strategy for England 1995-98. Presented to Parliament, October 1994. Introduction by Prime Minister John Major.
"The Myths of Drug Legalization," California Narcotic Officer's Association, Santa Clarita, CA.
Walton, Judge Reggie B., Associate Director Bureau of State and Local Affairs, Office of National Drug Control Policy, Speech to the American Bar Association, August 7, 1989.
Wilson, James Q. "Against the Legalization of Drugs," Commentary, Volume 89, No. 2, February 1990.
(References updated 1/96)
(Against Legalization 8/94)
