The topic of the legalization of drugs is becoming as taboo as religion and politics. Opinions on the matter are not often black or white, or yes or no. Positions on the legalization of drugs are based in fact, speculation, morality, faith, and frankly, whether or not one uses the drugs in question. Most commonly, the drug legalization debate is centered on marijuana.

Currently, there are several countries around the world where marijuana is essentially illegal, or where its possession often goes unprosecuted. The United States even contains multiple areas where marijuana has been decriminalized in some fashion. However, beyond the notion of legalizing only marijuana is the belief that all drugs should be legalized. As with any frequently debated subject, there are positives and negatives, pros and cons.

Pros:
Economic benefits – One cannot deny that a market exists for the purchase and sale of recreational drugs. It is a very lucrative market that has been fostered in dark alleys, cars, and abandoned lots. Legalizing drugs would remove the dark veil of secrecy and bring personal drug use to the forefront where it can be regulated and taxed. The regulation and sale of recreational drugs would create jobs and raise money at both the federal and state levels. In addition, money allotted to combat the “War on Drugs” could be made available for possible use toward health care, education, social welfare programs, and alleviating the national debt.

Crime reduction – The vast majority of convicts have been incarcerated due to drug related offenses. Legalizing drugs not only would solve the plague of prison overcrowding, but also would make this newly freed space in jails and prisons available for violent offenders. In addition, drug legalization would lessen the instances of crimes like theft, robbery, assault, murder, etc., that accompany underground drug markets. People who committed drug offenses in the past could be given a new chance at life, and more attention and money could be allotted toward the creation of drug rehabilitation centers and drug treatment programs.

Regulation will reduce deaths – If the government taxes and regulates the sale of drugs the likelihood that someone will die from a tainted or laced batch of their drug of choice will drastically decline. One is also likely to see the number of new HIV and AIDS cases decline because clean needles and other paraphernalia could be made available.

Cons:
Increase in crime – While the legalization of drugs may decrease crime rates in some areas, it will increase crime rates in others. Traffic violations and accidents are likely to increase. Also, many people are incarcerated due to a crime that they have committed while intoxicated, so how will the legalization of these substances aid in anyone’s good behavior?

Violent behaviors committed by those who use drugs are not going to vanish rapidly. In addition, the underground markets for drug sale and purchase are not likely to disappear. Dealers and pushers will probably target young people who will not be of age to purchase legalized drugs, and there will always be someone willing to sell their supply for a cheaper rate than the taxed and regulated government supply. One also cannot rule out a new dimension of campaign and corporate corruption that could be brought about by companies who would sell these newly legalized drugs.

Unknown effects – While studies have been conducted to test the effects of drugs on controlled samples of people, no one has truly been able to test the effects of drugs on a vast population. There are already so many unknown health risks and factors known to be attributed to regulated substances like alcohol and tobacco. The thought of the legalization of drugs creates a seemingly endless pool of unknown health effects for people to consider. Also, think of the number of lawsuits that are filed annually against tobacco companies, and now try to fathom the number of liability and injury claims that would arise from the legalization of drugs.

New gateway – There are already those who stand defiantly against the decriminalization and/or legalization of marijuana because it is believed to be a gateway drug to other more serious recreational drugs like cocaine, heroin, etc. So, one has to wonder what new gateways the legalization of all drugs would open? Children and teens already use drugs, alcohol, and sex as methods of rebellion against their families and society. With sex selling everything from potato chips to lingerie, and alcohol as commonplace as soft drinks, what could be left to experiment with if drugs are legalized? Would children and teens then look to experimenting with additional crimes and violent behavior?

Regardless of one’s stance on the the legalization of drugs, both sides present points that should be considered. As with any good debate, one should examine the pros and cons of the subject before drawing any conclusions. However, the one aspect of this discussion that exists without any speculation is that the debate over the legalization of drugs will likely rage on for many years to come.