Numerous social issues and concerns require close attention from the American government, including the problem of drug legalization. Some experts believe that if drugs become legal, there will be fewer crimes related to their use, and more regulation and standardization will be available (Hanson et al., 2022). To be more precise, illegal drugs often contain harmful ingredients, but it is currently impossible to control this problem because substances are sold on the black market. Proper enforcement mechanisms can be applied only if drugs become legal, which will make them safer. Another argument for legalizing drugs in the U.S. is related to the treatment of addictions (Stares, 1996). Nowadays, addicted persons avoid asking for medical help because they expect punishment, as this is a concern of criminal justice. However, legalization leads to improved rehabilitation and reduced stigmatization of addicts.
On the contrary, critics of this initiative argue that more people will want to use substances because this practice will not be a crime anymore. Statistics show that drug abuse is one of the main causes of death in the U.S., and these levels may grow after legalization. Another side of an increased number of drug users is that crime rates will become higher as well, and there will be more ruined households (Stares, 1996). Finally, social issues cannot be solved by substance legalization alone. However, such an approach can create additional concerns, such as sending the wrong message to kids and causing increased business costs.
Certain steps are required to solve the problem of mass incarceration related to drugs. Firstly, governments need to remove discrimination from the drug war, ensuring that communities of color do not face racism when policies against substance use are implemented. Next, if at least some drugs’ use, sale, and possession are decriminalized, mass incarceration rates will decrease (“Mass Incarceration and Criminalization,” n.d.). Eventually, the stigma associated with substance use needs to be addressed so that more judgment-free and compassionate methods are applied in relation to drug users.
References
Hanson, G., Venturelli, P. J., & Fleckenstein, A. E. (2022). Drugs and society. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Mass incarceration and criminalization. (n.d.). Drug Policy Alliance. Web.
Stares, P. (1996). Drug legalization? Time for a real debate. Brookings. Web.