Reasons to Legalize Drugs

Get rid of the criminal marketplace

Because its manufacture, distribution, sale, possession and use are illegal, people demand for illegal drugs from the criminal marketplace. As a result, organized crimes and criminal groups have been dominating the trade.

Help a majority of young users

Based on studies, those in the age between 15 and 16 years old have been using illegal drugs. For example, almost one half million of people are using ecstasy on a weekend. Many of these young people are seeing drug use as a normal endeavor.

However, criminalizing them for the illegal use is not actually reducing their numbers. For example, in Holland, drug use is Europe’s lowest because it is where cannabis laws are not as harsh as in other parts of the region are.

Legalizing drugs will accept that drug use is a social issue and not a criminal justice problem. How people would deal with it is what they have to decide on.

Safety

The prohibition of drug use leads to the marginalization and stigmatization of users. For example, users in countries where there are very strict laws have the high cases of infections among users that engage in injecting drugs.

Education and information

There is a lack of truthful guide and education regarding drug abuse and use. That is why more people are becoming addicted to it. Media and policy makers remain ignorant on the matter, and they keep on supporting and spreading lies and myths for their own needs, creating more dangers and risks, which are associated in drug use.

If legal highs and drugs would be made legal, people would be able to be more honest and open about the information that the rest of the world needs.

With better information, guides and studies, the public would be aware and better educated with the risks, dangers, effects and responsible use. Scientists and researchers will also be able to study and discover both the negative and positive effects of such substances.

Reduce crime

Due to the unregulated, demand-driven market, the prices go high from time to time. These substances are very expensive as a result. In the process, those who are dependent on them are stealing and committing crimes just to satisfy their demand. Many of the violent crimes associated with drugs are due to its illegality.

If drug trade would be regulated, the government would then be able to control the trade prices. Users won’t have to raise their funds by committing crimes, which will eventually put them in jail. For example, cigarette smokers don’t also have to steal in order to sustain their smoking habit.

There you have a couple of reasons legalizing drug use would be better for drug users and the society. Do you think we missed another important reason here? Tell us in the comment section. Finally, stay tuned with Express Highs for other educational posts we’d be adding in the future.