Drug Watch
International
Position Statement
AGAINST THE LEGALIZATION OR DECRIMINALIZATION OF DRUGS
The legalization or decriminalization of drugs would
make harmful, psychoactive, and addictive substances affordable, available,
convenient, and marketable. It
would expand the use of drugs. It
would remove the social stigma attached to illicit drug use, and would send a
message of tolerance for drug use, especially to youth.
Background:
Drug legalization or decriminalization is opposed by a
vast majority of Americans and people around the world. Leaders in drug prevention, education, treatment, and law
enforcement adamantly oppose it, as do many political leaders.
However, pro-drug advocacy groups, who support the permissive use of
illicit drugs, although small in number, are making headlines.
They are influencing legislation and having a significant impact on the
national policy debate in the United States and in other countries.
The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) is the
oldest drug user lobby in the U.S. It
has strong ties to the Libertarian party, the Drug Policy Foundation, and the
American Civil Liberties Union. These
groups use a variety of strategies which range from outright legalization to de
facto legalization under the guise of "medicalization," "harm
reduction," crime reduction, hem/marijuana for the environment, free needle
distribution to addicts, marijuana cigarettes as medicine, and controlled
legalization through taxation.
Rationale:
The use of illicit drugs is illegal because of their
intoxicating effects on the brain, damaging impact on the body, adverse impact
on behavior, and potential for abuse. Their
use threatens the health, welfare, and safety of all people, of users and
non-users alike.
Legalization would decrease price and increase
availability. Availability is a
leading factor associated with increased drug use.
Increased use of addictive substances leads to increased addiction.
As a public health measure, statistics show that prohibition was a
tremendous success.
Many drug users commit murder, child and spouse abuse,
rape, property damage, assault and other violent crimes under the influence of
drugs. Drug users, many of whom are
unable to hold jobs, commit robberies not only to obtain drugs, but also to
purchase food, shelter, clothing and other goods and services.
Increased violent crime and increased numbers of criminals will result in
even larger prison populations.
Legalizing drugs will not eliminate illegal trafficking
of drugs, nor the violence associated with the illegal drug trade.
A black market would still exist unless all psychoactive and addictive
drugs in all strengths were made available to all ages in unlimited quantity.
Drug laws deter people from using drugs.
Surveys indicate that the fear of getting in trouble with the law
constitutes a major reason not to use drugs.
Fear of the American legal system is a major concern of foreign drug
lords. Drug laws have turned drug
users to a drug-free lifestyle through mandatory treatment.
40% - 50% are in treatment as a result of the criminal justice system.
A study of international drug policy and its effects on
countries has shown that countries with lax drug law enforcement have had an
increase in drug addiction and crime. Conversely, those with strong drug policies have reduced drug
use and enjoy low crime rates.
The United States and many countries would be in
violation of international treaty if they created a legal market in cocaine,
marijuana, and other drugs. The
U.S. is a signatory to the Single Convention on Narcotics & the Convention
on Psychotropic Substances, and has agreed with other members of the United
Nations to control and penalize drug manufacturing, trafficking, and use.
112 nations recently reaffirmed their commitment to strong drug laws.
COPYRIGHT:
Permission is granted to reproduce this article,
provided credit is given to Drug Watch International.
References: Against Legalization
A
Restrictive Drug Policy: The Swedish Experience, Swedish National Institute of
Public Health,
Stockholm, 1993.
"Arguments
Against Legalizing Drugs and A Proposed Solution," Drug Abuse Update,
National Drug Information Center of
Families in Action and the Scott Newman Center, No. 26, Atlanta, GA, Sept. 1988.
"Arguments
Against the Legalization of Drugs," Campuses Without Drugs International,
Inc., Pittsburgh, PA
Brown, Dr.
Lee, Dir. of Office of National Drug Control Policy, "Eight Myths About
Drugs," Presented at the Conference
on Crime, Drugs, Health and Prohibition, Harvard Law School
May 21, 1994.
Caltrider,
William R., Jr., "The Snare and Delusion of Legalization," Presented
to the Demand Reduction Symposium,
Department of Justice, DEA, Arlington, VA.
January 27, 1994.
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Legalization: Myths & Misconceptions," DEA, Demand Reduction Office,
Seattle, WA.
Dupont,
Robert L. MD and Ronald L. Goldfarb, Esq., "The Case Against Legalizing
Drugs: The Delusion of Just Saying
Yes," Committees of Correspondence Newsletter,
57 Conant St., Danvers, MA.
"Forces
at Work to Legalize Drugs in Europe," Hassela Nordic Network Newspaper,
Hassela, Sweden
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Ron, R.Ph, "Making it Legal Won't Make it Less Lethal," Health for
ALL, Americans Against Legalization,
Genesis Center, Union, N.J. 1990.
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and Comments to Respond to Legalization of Illegal Drugs," DEA May, 1988.
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Drugs? No!," Drug Abuse Update, National Drug Information Center of
Families in Action and the Scott Newman
Center, Number 27, Atlanta, GA. December 1988.
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Gabriel G. MD, PhD, "The Decline of Drugged Nations," Wall St.
Journal, July 11, 1988.
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Robert, Esq., "Legalization: The Myth Exposed," Searching for
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United States, Hoover Institution Press, Stanford, CA., 1991.
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Paper in Opposition to the Legalization of Drugs. Published originally by the
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OR, September 1990. Community
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Statement Against the Legalization of Drugs, PRIDE, Atlanta, GA, 1990.
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Correspondence Newsletter, 57 Conant St.,
Danvers, MA. 01923.
Recommendations
Regarding Legalization of Drugs, White House Conference for A Drug-Free America
Final Report, June 1988.
Resolution
Against the Legalization of Drugs, The National Federation of Parents for Drug
Free Youth,
Roques,
Wayne, "Ten Compelling Reasons Not To Legalize Drugs,” DEA, Demand
Reduction Office, Miami
Division, 1993.
Schwartz,
Richard, MD, "Prohibition, 1920 to 1933: An Overview of Its Effects on
Public Health and the Economy,"
Southern Medical Journal, Vol. 85, No. 4 April 1992.
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Arguments Against Drug Legalization," EURAD News, Lomma Sweden, Spring
1993.
Speaking Out
Against Drug Legalization, U.S. Department of Justice, DEA, 1994.
"Tacking
Drugs Together:" A consultation document on a strategy for England 1995-98.
Presented to
"The
Myths of Drug Legalization," California Narcotic Officer's Association,
Santa Clarita, CA.
Walton,
Judge Reggie B., Associate Director Bureau of State and Local Affairs, Office of
National Drug Control Policy, Speech to
the American Bar Association, August 7, 1989.
Wilson,
James Q. "Against the Legalization of Drugs," Commentary, Volume 89,
No. 2, February 1990.
(References updated 1/96)
(Against Legalization 8/94)
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