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For as long as I can remember 'illegal drugs' has been a major problem in several countries. Many vulnerable families and communities have been affected detrimentally from this trade. At the same time people get rich very quickly from selling illegal drugs. From Heroin to cocaine and more so, since cocaine turned into crack we can all see the effects of what these drugs can do once people get addicted to them. Unsurprisingly this addiction will undoubtedly increase the demand as those hooked on a substance will need to get another 'hit' to feel 'good' again. This becomes a cycle in an addict's life hence the high demand. Marijuana to a lesser extent is in this category, I cannot pretend that I do not see what this 'natural drug' is doing to many teenagers which sets the tone for how their lives will turn out. I will comment on this later.
The debate about legalising illegal drugs is no small matter. It involves several issues such as money laundering, organised crime and terrorism. If you skim thrrough the website of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime you would see how vast the topic is so this piece is just giving an idea of what I feel could happen if illegal drugs are decriminalised. Several governments have tried somewhat unsuccessfully to solve the problem of allowing illegal drugs to penetrate western societies. Why? Is it because they cannot profit from it? This becomes an even bigger problem due to the way in which wealth distribution works around the world. People from poorer countries/communities do not have many opportunities to find jobs (or get rich) so they will see drug trafficking as a quick way to accumulate wealth. Many will argue that all illegal drugs should be legalised similar to how alcohol and cigarettes are treated. I will talk about the possible effects of this proposal. I will also talk about supply and demand regarding the habits of millions of people in the developed world and those who to supply their needs often with very high risks.
The reason why I think certain illegal drugs are seen as 'bad for you' or 'bad for society' is that seldom you will see someone hooked on crack, heroin and in some cases marijuana have a steady job, have a balanced family life or realise their full potential as a person. I understand that many people turn to drugs due to 'tragic' or unfortunate events in their lives for example if one did not have a stable childhood such as a father or mother around, a they just might turn to drugs (marijuana in most cases). I do not believe 'drugs' are necessarily the main problem in society. I just believe they make a bad situation worse especially amongst vulnerable people.
Ok, so I'm seriously thinking what the world would be like if illegal drugs are decriminalised. In rhetoric I would ask the following questions:
If legalised would demand for these drugs increase or not?
If all drugs are legalised, the government could control the drug market and the money that comes with it. Would this prevent barbaric killings amongst drug dealers in a bid to control drug selling 'turfs' such as what is happening around the world such as Mexico, communities in the USA and Europe at the moment?
Would legalising drugs prevent children from trying them?
Alcohol is legal however it causes many deaths and break up many families. Can we afford to entertain the same idea with cocaine, crack, heroin and marijuana? (you can consume it but not too much?).
These questions may seem farcical, however I believe they are justified regarding which side I will choose whether to 'legalise it!' or not. A few years ago I watched a real life documentary called 'Crack Heads Gone Wild'. Google this documentary and watch it if you can. I believe that this documentary should be shown to young teenagers in all schools to make them understand the effects of illegal drugs. The title of this documentary alone (crack heads and wild in one sentence!) made me sit down and watch it. It was difficult to watch, however what I gathered from it, is that people who are hooked on illegal drugs will do ANYTHING to get that next 'hit' if they cannot afford it. Also most of those people hooked on these illegal drugs were vulnerable in some way before they took the drugs and became addicts. Either that or they were just curious and tried crack once and that's all it took for them to leave their families in a quest to get their next hit. For example an addict will choose the crack pipe over the life of their mother. That's how nonsensical people can get when they are hooked on drugs. The logical description of a drug addict is that they are in a totally different world under the influence.
Marijuana
Many people especially those who smoke the plant will say that it is not a drug and ask why is marijuana illegal? It’s a conspiracy etc. People who say this often smoke first thing in the morning and last thing before they go to bed. It gives you ‘a buzz’ one might smoke this plant every day to get this ‘buzz’ while life slowly passes them by. It helps you to forget stress, helps you to meditate, it helps you to study they say. The problem starts when you are feining for the plant even if you don’t want to study, meditate or whatever you think it helps you to do. Yes you become dependent on it but you’re not an addict right? In many cases people think they are smoking marijuana when it is not pure ‘weed’. In fact it is all mixed up with several other things often oblivious to the smoker which sometimes leads them to other more dangerous substances. If you are not an addict to this drug and you smoke it once every two years as past time this may not apply to you. However if you do not feel right without a smoke then you might be an addict. If you’re an addict to marijuana and you’re a rich entertainer or someone who can afford your habit, smoke when and where you like without it affecting your income then great! However if you have a 9-5, studying or have other commitments and you are having trouble doing what you need to do because of smoking marijuana then you’ve got problems and need think about what’s more important.
So do I believe all drugs should be legalised or decriminalised? Well, not until we address or find solutions to the social problems that lead people to take these drugs in the first place. Social issues such as; mass unemployment, single parent households (a lack of family life), a lack of education, inequality whether its class or race affects society for the worse. What I find is that these issues in some way or another contribute to the drug problem we are having now. Also due to the fact that 'illegal drugs' will make all these situations worse it would not be wise to entertain the idea which causes problems which could take 'generations' to solve. How many lives which could have been upstanding members of society are lost to people being in prison, becoming drug addicts, being killed or even raising children who now see this as a normal part of their lives creating a form of 'acceptable drug culture' amongst children?
In my view, if all drugs become legalized or decriminalized then the social problems affecting us at the moment will only become worse. This would mean; more disenfranchised families, more drug addicts or crack heads walking the streets, more prostitution, more children being excluded from school due to more unstable homes etc. In other words society would be broken down, more so than it is now.
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