Is Decriminalizing Drugs A Right Move - 1216 Words

Alvaro Lopez Angela Mora English 1A 30 Sept 2014 Is Decriminalizing Drugs A Right Move? There always seems to be debate on whether the decriminalization of drugs would be of great public interest. It is a very important and controversial issue that has many people wondering if legalizing drugs would be a right move or not. In the article, â€Å"Decriminalization Would Increase The Use and The Economic and Social Costs of Drugs† by David Mineta, Mineta argues about why drugs should not be decriminalized and how keeping illicit drugs illegal outweigh the possible negative consequences of legalizing these substances. Mineta himself writes that, â€Å"Our position is simple and evidence-based: both decriminalization and legalization of illicit drugs would increase their use, along with their associated health and social costs† (Americas Quarterly). According to Mineta the decriminalization of drugs will only allow more people to become addicted causing more health and social costs because seen as they will be more widely used. (Americas Quarterly) According to him any tax revenue made from these substances would not cover the ridiculous high amount of expenses made on social costs associated with these substances (Mineta). Mineta states how illegal drugs â€Å"represented about $181 billion in social costs in 2002—a figure that would increase, because of increased use, under legalization† (Americas Quarterly). Mineta relates this to alcohol and tobacco, two substances that cost moreShow MoreRelatedGovernmental Efforts to Achieve a Drug Free Society1498 Words   |  6 Pageseffort to achieve a drug-free society, a dream that, perhaps by the virtue of existing measures, seems unrealizable. Its efforts include enforcements and bringing drug-offenders to justice which entails incarceration, capital punishment, and what a few. This has financial impacts on the government, for instance, cost of custodial services, police and court cost, community supervision etc; as well as social impacts a nd collateral costs, (Beckley 2009). Despite these costs, drug markets keep boomingRead MoreCount the Cost is a Collaborative Effort to Fight the War on Drugs1696 Words   |  7 Pagesviewpoints, share a desire to reduce the unintended costs of the war on drugs. The Count the Costs project aims to highlight the negative impacts of the war on drugs in seven key policy areas: Development and Security; Public health; Human Rights; Stigma and Discrimination; Crime; The Environment; and Economics. 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