Drug, Crime, Prohibition
analytical Essay
2938 words
Drugs, Crime and Prohibition
Do drugs really cause crime, or is it our governments way of controlling the communities? Many people blame drugs for every problem in our society, but is it the true evil in our society? No one person can answer that question. There are only opinions and supposed theories on this issue. We have been taught over the years that drugs were bad and that they only affected the poor and less fortunate, and turned them into crazy criminals, but this isn’t true to any extent. The laws controlling and prohibiting drugs are the true reasons. Would our crime levels decline if drugs were legalized to some extent, or would we just increase the destruction of our country? Over the past fifty years, prohibition has been proven to actually increase crime and drug use instead of its intended purpose, which was to extinguish the use of illicit drugs in the United States. We constantly here of prison over crowding, and why is that? Most of our prisons are filled with drug offenders, ranging from use to distribution of supposed illicit drugs. What is our country coming to? The purpose of this research paper is to view the advantages and disadvantages of the legalization of illicit drugs in the United States. I will examine each side of this major problem plaguing our fine country from past to present. People wake everyday to their normal and monotonous life without even thinking about what they are doing. They do not realize that they have been conditioned by the government and its laws to obey and follow the supposed norm of society. What is the norms of society, and who set the guidelines for them? No one can explain how these norms came about, they only know that they must follow them, or they could get in trouble with the law. We are going into the twenty first century, and we still follow laws that were passed hundreds of years ago. Why is this? We are a highly advanced country, but we spend time, lives and money on abiding by laws that were around before the automobile was even invented. I will begin with the history of our drug control policies, which have failed miserably, and examine the drug-crime connection. Policy History Drugs have been in this country since the beginning of time in some shape or form, which was used for personal and medicinal use. Usage of marijuana has been reported to date back to the founding of Jamestown (1). Ge...
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...ugh a drug epidemic. Drug related murders and violent assaults are on the rise, but this isn’t caused by drugs, rather by the laws that prohibit them. By prohibiting drugs, we are only causing the prices of drug to rise, which means addicts must cause crimes to support their habit. The illicit drug trade market is the second largest business in the world, bringing in over 500 billion dollars a year. Opposers of legalization argue that tobacco and alcohol kill more because of its legality and availability(3 ). The solution in their eyes is in education and early prevention. Drug use among America’s children in on the rise, and education is a perfect logical way of lowering their usage. Children need to be taught the effects and dangers of drugs when they are young. Children are the future drug abusers if something isn’t done. Violence and drugs are thought to be one in the same in most peoples eyes, but is this true. Drugs do not turn people into monsters, but rather bring out their criminal tendencies. No one argues that legalization would end violence that is associated with drugs, but it would simply end the violence associated with the black market. Many dealers become dealers
In this essay, the author
- Argues that prohibition has been proven to increase crime and drug use instead of its intended purpose, which was to extinguish the use of illicit drugs.
- Analyzes the history of our drug control policies, which have failed miserably, and examine the drug-crime connection.
- Explains that in the early 1900's, president roosevelt appointed three men to represent america at the hague international opium convention of 1912. the harrison act regulated the distribution of narcotics.
- Explains that the harrison act caused more drug use than it prevented. the volstead act was passed, even over president wilson's veto.
- Explains that the harrison act was relieved when congress passed the narcotic drugs import and export act, which gave the surgeon general power to regulate the importation of crude opium and coca leaves.
- Analyzes how ansliger categorized marijuana as hellish as heroin. the harrison act was under review five times, and president roosevelt signed the bill, which would ban marijuana.
- Explains that the boggs act was approved and signed into effect on november 2, 1951 by president truman. the american bar association created a committee to investigate the harrison act and the narcotic control act.
- Explains how anslinger ended his long tenure as head of the fbn and created the bureau of narcotics and other dangerous drugs.
- Explains that 80% of americans are incarcerated for drug offenses. past legislation to control drug use has failed miserably, and new legislation will do the same.
- Opines that prisons aren't solving our drug problems, but add to it, instead of its intended control of drugs.
- Argues that legalization would end violence associated with drugs, but it would also end the black market's violence.
Related
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- Drug Prohibition Research Paperanalytical essayIs Prohibition (defined as a government decree against the exchange of a good or service) actually successful in reducing recreational drug consumption and drug-related violence? This is the question that will be analyzed in this paper. Drug enforcement officials frequently cite drug-related violence as a reason that drugs must be eliminated from our society. A contrary belief is that the system of drug prohibition actually causes most of the violence. Similar to alcohol prohibition in the 1920s and the rise of organized crime, drug prohibition inspires a dangerous underground market that manifests itself with violent crime throughout the U.S. and, in fact, the world. The illegal nature of drugs has significantly increased the price and the
In this essay, the author
- Argues that drug prohibition is effective in reducing recreational drug consumption and drug-related violence.
- Analyzes jeffrey miron's analysis of the costs, benefits, and consequences of strictly enforcing drug prohibition.
- Analyzes how thornton examines the understood belief that alcohol prohibition failed. the examples he uses apply to drug prohibition and any other government attempt to restrict consumer habits.
- Opines that this paper reinforces the ideas presented by miron along with many others. the ultimate goal of the paper is to educate the common man and enlighten our country's leaders about drug prohibition and the war on drugs.
598 wordsRead More - Drug use has been an ongoing problem in our country for decades. The use of drugs has been the topic of many political controversies throughout many years. There has been arguments that are for legalizing drugs and the benefits associated with legalization. Also, there are some who are opposed to legalizing drugs and fear that it will create more problems than solve them. Conservatives and liberals often have different opinions for controversial topics such as “the war on drugs,” but it is necessary to analyze both sides in order to gain a full understanding of their beliefs and to decide in a change in policy is in order.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how sasha abramsky in the liberal magazine, the nation, finds a correlation between the drug policies and incarceration rates.
- Compares how alcohol and drugs can have similar effects on people but have very different consequences.
- Analyzes how conservatives believe that the war on drugs is no longer serving its purpose and needs to end. timothy lynch writes about how the drug war has not made much progress and has essentially failed.
- Explains that drug use has been an ongoing problem in our country for decades. conservatives and liberals often have different opinions for controversial topics such as "the war on drugs."
- Explains that liberals and conservatives agree that the war on drugs has gone too long and it is not producing the desired result, which is to reduce the drug rate in america.
1016 wordsRead More - Legalization of Marijuanaanalytical essayDrugs are a taboo subject in America, mostly because people are uneducated or misled by government education. Because of this most people feel that someone who uses drugs is a danger to society. When in fact, drug abuse for the most part is a victimless crime only affecting the user and the user's body and therefore should be the user's choice. It should be self-evident to see how Anti-Drug laws eliminate personal responsibility and free choice, leading to government infringement on individual rights. The War on Drugs has lead to the inexcusable erosion of our civil liberties by the use of...
In this essay, the author
- Explains that legalizing marijuana is a conservational issue in american politics today. there are many good arguments both for and against legalization.
- Explains that the marijuana tax act of 1937 effectively made marijuana illegal in the us. these theories have been thoroughly discredited and proven to be unsubstantiated.
- Analyzes how the war on drugs is eroding our civil liberties and wasting our tax payers' money.
- Explains that marijuana "destroyed brain cells, caused psychoses, lowered testosterone levels ad sperm counts, led to breast development in males... caused chromosome breakage and birth defects."
- Explains that marijuana has many medical benefits and has been proven to help those suffering from "chemotherapy nausea, glaucoma, chronic pain, epilepsy, migraine, and aids wasting syndrome."
- Explains that people smoke marijuana to gain new perspectives or see problems from a different vantage point. the tyranny and lies in the fight to legalize marijuana have gone on too long.
- Argues that advocates argue that crime would decrease under legalization, that dealers would be driven out of the market by lower prices, and that government would benefit from the sales tax on drugs.
- Argues that legalizing marijuana would send the wrong message, giving the appearance that marijuana wasn't dangerous or that the government was approving it by making it legal.
- Opines that even if marijuana users don't go on to use harder drugs, cannabis is still so deleterious to your health that it warrants prohibition.
- Opines that marijuana should be legalized as a medicine, and that the war on drugs has failed.
- Opines that marijuana should be legalized as a medicine, but it's dangerous and addictive. voth, a. eric.
949 wordsRead More - Prohibition is Destroying Americaanalytical essayThe war on drugs began with good intentions, but it is becoming clear that this battle is a failure. Not only do drug laws violate American’s freedoms, but they further complicate the lives of drug users. These laws have inadvertently been responsible for the deaths of thousands through bad drug deals and dirty drugs, which leads one to ask the question, “Is this a war on drugs or a war on drug users?” Body bags and HIV are becoming the most widely known side effects of drug prohibition. Contrary to what many may think, drug use will never be eliminated. Only through legalization and strict state-controlled regulations will the violent and deadly consequences of drug laws be controlled. By making these substances available, the drugs themselves will be safer and cheaper, government spending and prison population will decrease, and most importantly, Americans will be freer.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that the war on drugs began with good intentions, but it is becoming clear that this battle is a failure.
- Explains how the federal government stripped americans of their right to drink alcohol under the volstead act of 1920. alcohol was no longer manufactured by trusted companies like anheuser-busch and was now in the hands of black market racketeers like al capone.
- Explains that dirty needles were responsible for 40 percent of newly diagnosed hiv/aids cases in america in 1992. drug education classes across america warn children not to use them due to deadly health concerns.
- Explains that the law of supply and demand can explain why the prices of drugs continue to increase. inflation makes international crime lords and corner hustlers even richer, while disadvantaged drug users get poorer and desperate.
- Explains that tobacco accounts for 435,000 premature deaths of americans every year and causes 30 percent of all cancer related deaths in america. cigarettes are more addictive than any other drug, legal or illegal.
- Explains that alcohol causes the biggest increase in criminal behavior and death in america. alcoholics not only put society in danger, but they compromise their own health as well.
- Argues that drug laws are unique in that they punish the people they intend to protect, and they do so frequently.
- Argues that legalization and regulation of illicit substances could save the american government up to 80 billion a year, instead of spending tax dollars to confine non-violent offenders.
- Opines that pharmacies should distribute drugs from behind the counter, out of plain sight to customers age 21 and over, with warning labels and written information of the dangers of drug use.
- Argues that controlled taxable distribution and product quality control could free american citizens from prison and free the drug addicts from death and hopefully from their addiction.
- Explains that aclu against drug prohibition. san diego: greenhaven press, inc. 2000.
- Explains gerdes, louise i., ed. at issue: legalizing drugs. san diego: greenhaven press, inc.
1547 wordsRead More - America’s War on Drugs vs. Legalizationanalytical essayThe United States has spent over 30 years fighting the war on drugs. Americans have paid a heavy price financially. The drug enforcement budget is now $40 billion. A lot of time, effort, and money go into America’s attempt in eliminating trafficking, dealing, and the use of illegal drugs. Many believe that this is a war worth fighting, while others feel that America will never conquer the war on drugs. The latter suggest legalization as an alternative plan that will help save the country millions of dollars. In this paper, I will examine the history of the drug war as well as the arguments for and against fighting the war on drugs.
In this essay, the author
- Examines the history of the drug war and the arguments for and against fighting the war on drugs.
- Explains that the pure food and drug act said that certain drugs could only be sold on prescription.
- Explains that the comprehensive drug abuse prevention and control act was the law that made the most impact on the drug addiction population.
- Explains that president ronald reagan declared the "war on drugs" in his weekly radio address. reagan increased anti-drug spending from about 1 billion dollars to about 5 billion during his two terms.
3400 wordsRead More - Drug Prohibition – The solution that never workedanalytical essayCountries have been making drugs illegal over the years for varieties of reasons - be it to combat a perceived moral or health epidemic, to single out certain groups of people, or to reflect religious influences. Even when some drugs do not present notable health dangers, governments ban them. While there are many drugs that are unhealthy when abused, the drug policies around the world, particularly the United States, are inconsistent and oppressive. Drug laws were supposedly created for the good of society, but the prohibition of drugs only serves to cause problems, violence, and unrest.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that countries have made drugs illegal for various reasons, such as to combat a perceived moral or health epidemic, to single out certain groups, or to reflect religious influences. the prohibition of drugs only causes problems, violence, and unrest.
- Explains that past endeavors to ban substances were often motivated by discrimination and racism. attempts at controlling drug use are more accurately attempts at trying to control sectors of the population.
- Analyzes how the mexican government estimates that 28,353 murders were linked to organized crime in mexico over the past four years.
- Analyzes how the cartel chief jorge roman expressed his gratitude for the drug war, calling it a sham put on by the american taxpayer.
- Compares the prohibition of drugs to the 1920s alcohol prohibition in the united states. the volstead act and the eighteenth amendment of the constitution banned the sale of alcohol.
- Opines that the laws against drugs do little or nothing to curtail drug use. today's drug policies have failed, and the drug trade is bigger than ever.
- Argues that drug prohibition violates people's privacy and rights. the government is attempting to regulate what people want to put into their bodies.
- Opines that drug policies are facing opposition in the present era. the end of violence, the booming economy for legal drug trade, and the freedom of citizens from invasive laws are just some of the benefits that amending drug policy can bring.
- Cites lynch, timothy. after prohibition: an adult approach to drug policies in the 21st century.
1079 wordsRead More - I Support the Decriminalization of All Drugsopinion essayWhen societies finally become comfortable with reality, they begin to abandon the murderous laws that impede their growth. Currently, the social stigma and legislated morality regarding the use 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.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that when societies become comfortable with reality, they begin to abandon murderous laws that impede their growth. the social stigma and legislated morality regarding the use of illicit drugs yield perhaps the most destructive effects on american society.
- Opines that the "drug war" in the united states has a prison population larger than russia and china's and an inestimable death toll that rivals the number of american casualties from any given war, disease or catastrophe.
- Opines that u.s. drug policy is irrational, which leaves us no option but to assume that anti-drug sentiment fulfills psychological needs, specifically those that operate independent of rational thought.
- Argues that the government's efforts to stigmatize drugs and drug users have failed to have any effect. they forget that smoking marijuana or opium was preferred by the intelligentsia.
- Argues that drug use does not deteriorate the imaginary "moral fabric" of american culture.
- Explains that when someone dies due to drug overdose, we blame the drug and ask for stricter laws. however, one does not die from the narcotic effects of heroin, but from its impurity.
- Concludes that a tightening of drug laws correlates with an increase in violent crime.
- Analyzes how the drug war has produced abstract negative effects that are difficult to measure, such as the destruction of family life.
- Opines that the most plausible explanation of the current drug policy lies within the irrational requirements of psyche, needs that are both individual and social
- Opines that they would prefer a society where people are free to do anything that does not infringe upon the rights of others, in which socially constructed moralities do not hinder individual freedom.
1134 wordsRead More - Legalizing Marijuana Will Decreased Crimeopinion essayMany feel today we are loosing the war on drugs. People consider legalization unnecessary. They feel that it will increase the amount of drug use throughout the world. They state that in many cases, drug users who have quit quit because of trouble with the law. Legalization would eliminate the legal forces that discourage the users from using or selling drugs. They also say that by making drugs legal, the people who have never tried drugs for fear of getting caught by the law will have no reason to be afraid anymore and will become users (Potter 1998).
In this essay, the author
- Opines that marijuana is the cause of much commotion and debating, as the question of legalization becomes more of an issue.
- Opines that legalization will increase the amount of drug use throughout the world and eliminate the legal forces that discourage the users from using or selling drugs.
- Opines that legalization will be profitable to global economies in two ways. it will allow for money spent on drug law enforcement to be spent more wisely and will increase revenue.
- Opines that billions of dollars could be spent to build the jail space needed to house all the drug users in trenton alone. drug abuse is a killer worldwide.
- Explains that drug violators are a major cause of extreme overcrowding in us prisons. since 1982, there has been an increase of 160 inmate population.
- Explains that 1991 was the most murderous year in the united states since 1972, and police estimated that forty percent of these homicides were drug related. legalizing hemp and other drugs would deter future criminal acts, thus decreasing crime.
- Argues that legalizing drugs would also increase countries revenue. legalizing alcohol did not increase alcoholism, so why would it elevate drug abuse?
- Argues that marijuana should be legalized because medical professionals have found several applications for the hemp plant.
- Explains that many people have been apprehended by authorities for growing marijuana even though it was for their private medicinal use.
- Explains that almost half of oncologists would prescribe marijuana if it were legal. marijuana is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known.
- Explains that marijuana is beneficial for aids, glaucoma, cancer, epilepsy, ms, and chronic pain. hemp is useful for cancer patients, as it stimulates the appetite and relieves nausea and vomiting.
- Explains that medicinal marijuana is illegal in the united states and states that hemp is grown legally in california and the university of mississippi.
- Concludes that marijuana legalization is a valid and necessary solution to our countries drug problem. legalization will decrease violent crime associated with drug dealers, decrease the number of users, and lower the wasteful cost.
- Cites friedman, milton, potter, beverly, and randell, robert c. the patients fight for medicinal pot
1426 wordsRead More - The American Constitution and Drug Waropinion essayThe consensus with regards to drug laws favors more stringent and draconian laws, with the attempt to stifle use and punish crime. There are many claims used against drug legalization, such as, moral degradation, crime, the destruction of inner cities; along with families, diseases, such as AIDS, and the corrupting of law enforcement. When one examines the effects of prohibition, one has to inquire: has the cost been worth it? Certainly, an argument for the abolition of prohibition doesn’t include the favoring of drug use, but merely recognizes the vain and utopian attempt to control individual choices. Along these lines, the unintended consequences of these attempts may preclude any benefits. Further, one has to wonder: are these laws—at the federal level—constitutional or not? This paper will examine the issue of drug prohibition from a constitutional standpoint, an economic perspective, and the societal effects these laws have.
In this essay, the author
- Argues that the argument for abolition of prohibition doesn't include the favoring of drug use, but recognizes the vain and utopian attempt to control individual choices.
- Opines that the constitution of the united states is the supreme law of land. it's essential to discern the explication and implication of this with regard to the drug war.
- Explains that the constitution was ratified on the condition that only the federal government would possess the powers specifically delegated to it by the states.
- Explains that the supremacy, general welfare, necessary and proper clauses, and commerce clauses have been controversial to say the least.
- Opines that understanding the supremacy clause and its consequences would settle many disputes; however, we are only concerned with one issue: drug laws.
- Explains that the supremacy clause is restricted by its limitations and reservations, those found in article i, section 8, and didn't grant new powers, other than those delegated or reserved.
- Explains that the general welfare clause has caused much debate, since it claims anything done in the name of the welfare must be constitutional. it may be beneficial and salutary for the federal government to outlaw drugs.
- Explains that congress provides for the common defense and general welfare in article i, section 8 of the constitution. the preamble contains the general motives or reasons for regulations or measures.
- Explains that article i, section 8 would rule out a general grant of power, explained james madison. if the general welfare clause granted the federal government general power to do anything it wanted, why bother listing specific powers later?
- Explains jefferson's view that the general welfare clause was limited and had no other power than a mere general explanation of the subsequent enumerations.
- Opines that the only viable and honest reading would be to take the former view.
- Explains that article i, section 8, clause 18, instructs congress to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper to carry forth the enumerated powers.
- Explains that george nicholas, a delegate to the virginia ratifying convention, said it gave no further powers other than those enumerated. archibald maclaine and james iredell, along with chief justice thomas mckean, reciprocated these views.
- Explains that congress has all the incidental and instrumental powers for carrying out its express functions, and removes the uncertainty of the means to carrying into the otherwise granted powers.
- Explains that the commerce clause has caused much debate. it grants congress the power to regulate commerce among the several states.
- Analyzes how the supreme court has whittled away at the commerce clause, claiming power that "affects" or has "substantial effects" on other states.
- Opines that the only powers the federal government would possess were those specifically delegated to it by the people of the several states.
- Explains that when a question arises regarding the constitutionality of power, the first inquiry must be whether it is properly an incident to an express power and necessary to its execution. the construction of the words "necessary and proper" is consonant with the peculiar character of government.
- Opines that to take a step beyond these powers would cripple the constitution and thus our democratic principles and process.
2065 wordsRead More - Crime And Drugsanalytical essayCrime and Drug Use The link between drug use and crime is not a new one. For more than twenty years, both the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute of Justice have funded many studies to try to better understand the connection. One such study was done in Baltimore on heroin users. This study found high rates of criminality among users during periods of active drug use, and much lower rates during periods of nonuse (Ball et al. 1983, pp.119-142).
In this essay, the author
- Argues that using therapeutic communities in prisons will reduce recidivism rates among people who have been released from prison. gottfredson and hirschi developed the general theory of crime.
- Explains that the criminal act and criminal offender are separate concepts. crimes are committed when they promise rewards with minimal pain or punishment, while crime rates fluctuate due to opportunity.
- Analyzes the relationship between self-control and use of illegal drugs in a mid-western study. once people get into the criminal justice system, it is much easier to be sent back to prison.
- Explains that the cost to john q. taxpayer for a prisoner in ohio is around $30,000, which is expensive when you consider that there are more than 1,100,000 people in us prisons today.
- Opines that effective prison-based treatment for incarcerated drug abusers would be a step in the right direction.
- Explains how the principles of effective correctional change and the efficacy of prison-based treatment were discussed at professional conferences.
- Explains that addiction is a symptom and not the core of the disorder. the most effective form of therapeutic community intervention involves three stages: incarceration, work release, and parole.
- Opines that recovering addicts should stay together and live in a separate environment than the general population. the delaware correctional system has been operating this three-stage model since the early 1990s.
- Explains that the stay'n out program and key-crest program are some of the first large-scale evidence that prison-based therapeutic communities actually produce a significant reduction in recidivism.
- Opines that addiction treatment is very important to this country's war on drugs.
- Analyzes the impact of policy research on the texas correctional substance abuse treatment initiative.
- Cites reuter, p., siegel, l.j, toumbourou, hamilton, and fallon. treatment level progress and time spent in the prediction of outcomes following drug-free therapeutic community treatment.
2995 wordsRead More