The War on Drugs has been around for more than a hundred years. Enormous amounts of money are spent every year in this war. In past years the discussion about drug prohibition seems to have shifted towards more sensible policies such as drug decriminalization rather than a strict repression. In 2012, Colorado and Washington have decided to legalize cannabis 1 and according to 2014 poll 67% of Americans favors treatment over jail sentences.2 Drug decriminalization seems to be a good step forward
legalizing now illegal drugs. This has become a hot debate throughout nations all over the world, from all walks of life. The dispute over the idea of decriminalizing illegal drugs is and will continue on as an ongoing conflict. In 2001, Drug decriminalization in all drugs, including cocaine and heroin, became a nationwide law in Portugal (Greenwald). Ethan Nadelman, essayist of “Think again: Drugs,” states his side of the story on the continuing criminalization of hard drugs, in which he stand to
breaking the rules. According to the study of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in 2003, “The total number of drug abusers is estimated at some 200 million people, equivalent to 4,7% of the global population age 15 or above… compared to 4,3% last year (2002)”;. In 1998 “the international illicit drug business has generated as much as $400 billion in trade according to the United Nations International Drug Control Program. That amounts to 8% of all international trade and is comparable
Count: 1739 Drug-Free and Decriminalized: Civil Sanctions for Illicit Drugs Reducing the budget deficit is possible by reinventing current sanctions against drug use. With the tentative schedule of the 42nd Canadian federal elections scheduled set for October 19th 2015, the issue of governing drug use is an urgent national concern because criminalizing drug use falls under federal regulation. The methods regulating illegal substances however, are not as nuanced as the various forms of drugs prohibited
of illicit drugs yield perhaps the most destructive effects on American society. Drug laws have led to a removal of non-violent citizens from society- either directly by incarceration or indirectly by death - that is genocidal in quantity and essence. I base my support of the decriminalization of all drugs on a principle of human rights, but the horror and frustration with which I voice this support is based on practicality. The most tangible effect of the unfortunately labeled "Drug War" in the
Adults opposed to decriminalizing drugs The War on Drugs Why it should end with decriminalization Every 19 seconds there is a drug arrest in the United States. (Drug War Statistics) On July 17th, 1971, President Richard Nixon declared a war on drugs. Drug abuse, according to the president, was "public enemy number one". Now, a little more than four decades later the U.S. has the largest incarceration rate in the world, with 51% of those in jail for non-violent drug offenses. The U.S. now spends $51
Should Drugs Be Decriminalized? Recreational drug use has been controversial for years. Government has deemed the use of certain drugs to be dangerous, addictive, costly, and fatal. Governmental agencies have passed laws to make drugs illegal and then have focused a great deal of attention and money trying to prohibit the use of these drugs, and many people support these sanctions because they view the illegality of drugs to be the main protection against the destruction of our society (Trebach
the decriminalization of drugs has on society and how different society’s members will react to such a policy. There are two main sides taken when discussing the decriminalization of drugs. The first theorizes that should this liberal drug policy be implemented, there will be a large increase in drug usage and drug related problems. The opposing side, which has gained popularity in recent years, believes that decriminalizing drugs would have a positive impact on society and result in less drug usage
Illicit drugs, narcotics and other psychotropic substances have always been a part of our society. And as a community of well intentioned and well meaning responsible members of the society, we have collectively been at the fore front of the fight against the illegal marketing and improper use of these drugs. We accept that the extreme practices as regards illicit drugs have had significant impact on our society and it is our desire and responsibility to eliminate or at worse minify the adverse effect
in Canada. Decriminalization refers to the act of removing criminal sanctions, such that possession of marijuana as well as consumption of it would not result in a criminal prosecution. Currently, under Canada’s Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, possession of marijuana (up to 30 grams) carries a penalty of 6 months in jail as well as a $1000 fine for first offences with the penalty increasing for subsequent offences. (canadian criminal code) Advocates of marijuana decriminalization argue however