A New Look on Drugs
Recently I was talking to a friend about drugs and drug control by governments. We got on the subject of how many millions of dollars are spent yearly trying to fight drug trafficking, and all the spin-offs that are created by drugs (increased crime, gangs, organized crime etc). His idea was to remove drugs from the equation and make them completely accessible. At first I thought he was a nutcase, but then he went on to explain his theory. He said that by having the drugs accessible in a controlled manor and for an inexpensive price you would remove first off a huge amount of money fighting drug the whole drug trade. Also crimes such as break and entering, car theft, and petty robberies would also decrease greatly due to their often linkage to drug users who need another fix. This in effect would free up our police force for more pressing issues as well as more resources to be put into public services.
Now at this point in his explaining I brought up the issue that this would probably create a new strain on our health system, and also questioned the idea that this would turn Canada into the land of the junkies. To this he said that the money being saved would most definitely be put into the health system, but more importantly into preventative medicine and education. He claimed that with a very strong educational system on drug usage the populous would likely stay away from most hard drugs. He then asked me if heroin was legal if I would ever consider doing it? I told him I probably wouldn’t, proving his point.
He then went on to say how well our current campaign against smoking has been working. How the image of smokers has gone from cool to dirty in such a short time. He thinks with a similar but stronger approach to drugs it would have a similar effect. Finally he went on to say that the war on drugs would never be won, that people would always have a way of getting the drugs if they truly want them. So why not give these people the access to the drugs for cheap if they really want it and spend the enormous amount of money wasted on anti-drug enforcement on prevention and education.
I have thought about this idea for a while now and am a little less skeptical than when I first heard it. I think it still has a lot of holes but at least presents some fresh ideas (at least to North American minds). I can’t say I am completely sold, but I can at least see some merit. What do you think?
1 comment
I totally agree. The ‘war’ on drugs is ridiculous. If people really want drugs they’ll be able to find them no matter what (a basic capitalist principle >> supply and demand); I don’t necessarily think drugs should just be sold over the counter to anyone, but you should be able to get a prescription for them (ie if you are a junkie and need heroin to maintain yourself you could get a prescription from your doctor – junkies can often maintain reasonably normal lifestyles as long as they get their dose everyday). This would make it at least somewhat difficult to obtain drugs (e.g. most people might not want to go to a Doctor in the first place or admit to their doctor that they have a habit). I mean if you look at it opiates (vicodin, percocet, morphine) are actually prescribed very frequently for pain relief and methamphetamine (desoxyn) is sometimes prescribed for ADHD, and cocaine used to be used by dentists for its numbing effects.
Furthermore, like you said this would vastly cut down on crime, policing costs etc. and addicts could be referred to rehab places, councelling etc. at the same time.
Also, this would totally cut down on organized crime as much of this is funded by the drug trade. Personally, I think the status quo is maintained because many officials (police, politicians etc.) actually benefit from the drug trade (as an example look at the recent arrests at the legislature – Bassi and Virk; sure arrets are made but these could just be against those who are not on the side of those making the arrests). In any case it makes sense to decriminalize drugs (especially normal possesion), because as many criminology studies have demonstrated, sending people to jail usually just turns them into criminals to a greater extent. Support, rehab, education etc. is what helps them get their lives back on track.
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