What do you think recreational drugs should be legalized or decriminalized? Which of them? Is the legalization of drugs lenient towards crime? Does the drug ban complicate the work of the police and divert resources from other, more important issues? Join the discussion and share arguments and resources in the forum below. On the other hand, if an individual causes significant harm to himself or others through the use of drugs, the State can rightly try to counter that harm. The obligation to wear a seat belt is an example of this. Anti-drug legislation assumes that the government prevents potentially harmful behavior. Legalizing a drug would send a message to society that intoxication is sanctioned behavior. Finally, the prospect of legalization is discussed, as well as strategies to regulate a legal drug market. This would prevent a “free for all” by ensuring that vital restrictions are imposed on sales and use, while controlling potency. As the authors point out, the legal sale of alcohol does not extend to hazardous mixtures containing 100% ethanol or the right to drink at work, for example. This probably means that when assessing the impact of the decriminalization or legalization of drugs, many factors related to a country`s society, its trade relations with other countries, its geographical location, the rest of its legal framework, its religion and many other aspects must be taken into account. Legalization of drugs in different countries is unlikely to have the same effect, as their benefits and problems are likely to depend heavily on the context.
On the drug user`s side, the high price of illegal drugs makes it difficult and often impossible to obtain the drug without committing additional crimes. Unemployed heroin addicts, for example, cannot easily find ways to finance their addiction without resorting to theft and theft to obtain the funds needed to buy the drugs they need. A government-controlled drug distribution system could easily solve these problems and make these drugs available to anyone who needs them at little or no cost. This would benefit society as a whole. Amsterdam is a thriving tourist city, and one of the reasons it attracts tourists from all over the world is that they are able to get marijuana safely and legally, with countless cafes and shops offering cannabis open to anyone over the age of 18. With a significantly lower crime rate than the UK, the legalisation of cannabis could reduce crime and boost tourism, but is it possible that London will become the uk`s new cannabis hub? In general, it is very difficult to say what “harmful” means in terms of drug use. Many drugs (including alcohol and marijuana) cause disorientation and often behavioral changes. Some of these changes can be harmful when driving, for example, but harmless when sitting on a couch with friends. People who are criminalized by their addictions may feel less interested in society and more easily slip into other problematic behaviors.
Addicts also have to deal with criminals to get their drugs. Legalization would undermine existing drug gangs and could reduce drug-related violence. With recent legislative changes allowing marijuana for certain medical cases in the UK, it is more likely that it will be approved for more medical purposes. When it comes to the legality of recreational cannabis, it is currently unlikely that the UK will follow countries on the other side of the Atlantic, such as Canada and some US states, in legalising cannabis. In many Western countries, drug policies are considered ineffective and the decriminalization of drugs has become a trend. Many experts have provided evidence on why drugs should be legal. One of the reasons for the legalization of recreational drug use is that the majority of dictators are not criminals and should not be treated as such, but should be helped by other means. The criminalization of drug addicts contributes to division in our societies. The “war on drugs” waged by the governments of countries such as the United States, Mexico, Colombia and Indonesia has caused a great deal of damage to society. Drug-related offences have not always decreased after a more drug-intolerant government stance. Prohibition and crime are often seen as correlated. Those in favor of prohibition and criminalization often argue that legalizing drugs would send the wrong message, suggesting that it is more socially acceptable to use drugs.
It can also give the impression that taking medication is safe, although there is ample evidence that this is not the case. Different countries have had different experiences with attempts to decriminalize or legalize recreational drugs. For example, while Portugal decriminalized all personal drug possessions and use in 2001 and recorded a decline in drug use, the Netherlands recorded an increase in drug tourism from neighbouring countries and an increase in drug-related crime. There is also evidence of successful partial decriminalization in Canada, Switzerland, Portugal and Uruguay. Other countries, such as Ireland, appear to be following a similar path and plan to decriminalize some recreational drugs soon. In addition, the United Nations held a special session on drugs in 2016r, UNGASS 2016, at the request of the presidents of Colombia, Mexico and Guatemala. The objective of this session was to analyse the effects of the war on drugs. explore new options and establish a new paradigm in international drug policy to prevent the flow of resources to organized crime organizations.
