Legalization of Drugs

We have often discussed the issue that drug use should be legalized or remain illegal, as it is now. I think it’s more than crazy that the global trade in banned drug reaches 500 billion dollars a year, which was reported by a subcommittee of the U. S. Senate. (World Press Review, Nov. 1989).
　The drug issue is, thus, one of the most serious problems which people in Western countries currently share, and we have to overcome this problem before we get into the next century.

Before going to the discussion whether or not legalization of drug is necessary or effective to reduce the drug use, we have to identify each kind of drugs from the medical point of view and classify them according to the degree of danger and intensity. We know, roughly speaking, there are two kinds of drugs, “soft drugs” like marijuana and “dangerous drugs”, such as cocaine and heroin. Furthermore, these drugs should be in detail divided (So, I need to make a more comprehensive research of the drug classification.)

First of all, I agree with some people in favor of legalization only to the soft drugs. And, regarding hardcore drugs, they should be strictly prohibited. It is based on concept that many different drugs must be identified from soft drugs to seriously dangerous drugs. In the words of Dr. Brussel, who in charge of drugs control in Amsterdam, “If selling or using soft drugs were also to be criminalized, the two scenes (taking soft drugs and hard drugs) would tend to mix, and young people would more readily come into contact with the hard stuff.” (World Press Review, May 1990).
　This is the first reason for my opinion. So, I believe some drug takers should not be considered criminal, but they just need medical treatment.

I am not sure whether the drastic change to legalize hard drug would be quickly and actually effective in decreasing drugs if this was put into force. But, I believe this overall legalization is only and last countermeasure to disconnect drug trade from organized gigantic gangster. Of course, appropriate restriction, registration system, and medical care to addicted people are required in order to effectively carry out legalizing all drugs.

Next, legalization of drugs is often argued as economic problem with taxation, which is reasonably verified by R. J. Dennis in the Atlantic Monthly, Nov. 1990. Even though I don’t want to support legalization by means of an economic reason, this economical benefit including tax income is practically and substantially important to carry out.

I know, on the other hand, that some people point out that legalization is really risky and leads to significantly increasing the number of addicts. For example, in a recent article issued in Feb.1990, Prof. J. Q. Wilson states　that “I believe that the result (of legalization) would be a sharp increase in use, a more widespread degradation of the human personality, and a greater rate and violence.” Also, Some people say “Don’t wake a sleeping baby.” I admit there might be, more or less, possibility of increasing new drugs users.

Hence, I’d like to emphasize that appropriate education concerning drug use is necessary and essential not only to addicted people but also to ordinary people, and that we should learn why the addicts had to start taking drugs.

Although I understand my argument seems to be located in between the two extreme sides in the drug issue. But, I don’t mean to make a compromise of two opinions, against and favor for legalization of drugs. I think that between the two current arguments there are several possible ways, which, I believe, much more effectively solve this serious problem. Sooner or later, more comprehensive consideration for drug use together with use of alcohol and tobacco from the medical, moral, social, practical point of view.