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Legalization an option
Frank Bucholtz | Langley Times | Jul 02 2006

The arrest of two men in a scheme which saw marijuana hauled into the U.S. by helicopter is being hailed by law enforcement officials on both sides of the border.

They say the helicopter was hauling cocaine back into Canada, after dropping off marijuana in remote areas that were accessible by helicopter.

This is just another indication of the massive scale of drug smuggling that goes on in this area.

In addition to marijuana being traded for cocaine, it is often used to purchase handguns. These guns are then distributed among people involved with the drug trade, and this has led to many murders throughout the Lower Mainland.

There is a big "War on Drugs" underway in the U.S., and to a lesser degree, in Canada. Given the scope of criminal activity involved with drugs, this is necessary.

However, it seems no amount of enforcement is able to put a significant dent in drug use.

Perhaps it is time to look at the issue from an historical perspective. When the U.S. banned alcohol in the days of prohibition (which also occurred in Canada, but earlier and for a shorter period), the use of alcohol did not stop. It went underground, and criminals became involved in it because of the huge profits to be made.

While there is no justification for legalizing cocaine, heroin or other such drugs, it might make sense to sell marijuana at government outlets, just as was done in Canada with liquor when prohibition ended. This ensured that the price and quality of the product was reasonable, and took the criminal element out of the picture.

However, a comprehensive study of the effects of marijuana on health is necessary before legalization. For example, if smoking cigarettes is harmful to health, as we all know, how is it possible that smoking marijuana has no negative effect on one's health over a long period of time?

Medicinal use of marijuana is proven to have some beneficial effects, and is legal in Canada. Perhaps it is time to consider wider legalization.

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reggie_the_dog

"While there is no justification for legalizing cocaine, heroin or other such drugs, it might make sense to sell marijuana at government outlets, just as was done in Canada with liquor when prohibition ended. This ensured that the price and quality of the product was reasonable, and took the criminal element out of the picture."


Here is one justification.

I am a free indivdual. You are a free individual. Everyone of us is a free indivudual. Simply taking a drug hurts no one other than the person taking the drug. If one does not harm another, steal from another, or dramatically increase the risk another person takes with their own life (think of speed limits), then no CRIME has happened. Therefore the legalization of hard drugs is justifiable in that it would be doing nothing more than respececting the rights of free adults.

Buzzby

Prohibition is a symbolic action against the evils of drugs. I say "symbolic" because it has never proved to be an effective deterrent to drug use. Mostly, it makes the public feel good that "something is being done". I don't think that "feel good" aspect justifies the huge monetary and social cost of the prohibition of any drug. Drug use is a personal decision. Drug abuse is a social/medical problem, not a criminal one. Almost all of the violence and theft associated with drugs is caused by prohibition and the outrageous prices of drugs on the black market created by prohibition.


Why not take a look at existing research? Smoking Cannabis Does Not Cause Cancer Of Lung or Upper Airways, Tashkin Finds; Data Suggests Possible Protective Effect

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