NCJ Number
145512
Date Published
Unknown
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Arguments for and against the legalization or decriminalization of drugs are presented without analysis or rebuttal.
Abstract
The effectiveness of a drug policy that relies heavily on law enforcement, the judicial system, and prisons has been questioned. The legalization or decriminalization of drugs has been proposed as an alternative to the current drug policy. Arguments presented in this article for the legalization of drugs include: 1) easy access to drugs would make drug use boring; 2) the criminal justice system has a limited capacity and has met with limited success in its attempt to curtail the drug market; 3) the costs of prisons to house drug offenders are rising, diverting funds from other social and law enforcement needs; 4) tax revenues from legal drug production and sales could be used to fund drug treatment and other social and educational programs; and 5) drug production and sale could be regulated. Arguments against the legalization of drugs include: 1) drug use would increase due to easy access, particularly by new users who would not be deterred by legal sanctions; 2) a black market would form to undercut the regulated one; and 3) education programs aimed at children would lack credibility since the programs would be attempting to dissuade children from doing something that was legal.