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In many states, a number of drugs have been banned because they are considered to have harmful and damaging outcomes on individuals who consume them. The most common categories of such drugs include stimulants, hallucinogens, opioids, and cannabinoids. Varied examples of drugs from these categories encompass cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, heroine, and opium.[1] While most of them have extremely damaging effects, some have lesser outcomes on affected individuals. It is because of their minimal effects that various perspectives within the society advocate that such drugs be made legal. They posit that such a step will rid the society of illegal drug trade and reduce societal crime rates. This will also avail all information on drugs and provide safer conditions for using drugs. However, others disagree with these perspectives. They cite factors related to addiction, productivity, mental health, other associated diseases, and the costs incurred by the society.[2] Light drugs should not be legalized because they are addictive, render individuals unproductive, and lead to various health and mental complications.

Various schools of thought argue that legalizing light drugs will eliminate criminal market places, massively reduce crime rates, and make the use of drugs safer in the society. Because these drugs remain illegal, the costs of acquiring, transporting, and merchandizing drugs remain extremely high.[3] If anything, most of their current markets remain unlawful. These factors make their prices extremely high. Besides the traders and transporters, some poor consumers of illegal drugs have to engage in criminal activities to acquire money for purchasing the drugs. If the society legalizes light drugs, their prices will go down to affordable levels for all consumers. At the same time, crime rates will drop significantly because both traders and consumers will not have to perform their roles in illegal ways.[4]

It is also possible that drug consumption will become safer because the society will be obliged to avail all health and relevant information about light drugs to potential and existing consumers. The users will be free and at liberty to use these drugs. Various perspectives also posit that the legalization of light drugs will help promote open, honest, and truthful awareness to users. This will make them aware of the impacts of light drugs.  As much as there are advantages of legalizing light drugs, other facets within the society dispute such steps.[5] To begin with, they claim that such drugs have detrimental effects on the physical and mental health of affected individuals. They may result in conditions like loss of memory due to damages in the brain and central nervous system. They also affect individuals’ intelligence quotient. In a number of cases, expectant mothers who consume such drugs may also have babies with various defects and conditions such as leukemia.[6]

Another outstanding effect of light drugs on individuals who consume them relates to their addictive nature and the extents to which they render individuals unproductive. Research outcomes indicate that repeated use of the light drugs leads to addiction. Thus, individuals who consume them once will always be in need of them. When this happens, they become poorer because they have to purchase increasing amounts every new day. At the same time, their activity, functionality, and productivity reduce significantly. In the end, they fail to satisfy provisions for themselves and their families.[7]

In concussion, despite the advantages presented by proponents of light drugs legalization, the negative effects of such a step on the society remain overwhelming. They are addictive, render individuals unproductive, and lead to various health and mental complications. Because of these, light drugs should not be legalized.

Bibliography

Caulkins, Jonathan. Marijuana Legalization: What Everyone Needs to Know. New York: Oxford University Press, 2012.

Earleywine, Mitchell. Pot Politics: Marijuana and the Costs of Prohibition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013.

Friedman, Mark. Legalization of Drugs: Varied Perspectives in the Society. London: Braintree, 2013.

Gerber, Rudolph. Legalizing Marijuana: Drug Policy Reform and Prohibition Politics. Connecticut: Pager, 2014.

Hess, Kären. Introduction to Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice. Clifton Park: Cengage Learning, 2012.

Kopp, Pierre. Political Economy of Illegal Drugs and Associated Perspectives. London: Routledge, 2014.

Lyman, Michael. Drugs in Society: Causes, Concepts, and Control. Cincinnati: Anderson Publishing Company, 2013.

[1]. Friedman, Mark. Legalization of Drugs: Varied Perspectives in the Society (London: Braintree, 2013), 57.

[2]. Lyman, Michael. Drugs in Society: Causes, Concepts, and Control (Cincinnati, Ohio: Anderson Publishing Company, 2013), 401.

[3]. Gerber, Rudolph. Legalizing Marijuana: Drug Policy Reform and Prohibition Politics (Westport, Connecticut: Pager, 2014), 92.

[4]. Caulkins, Jonathan. Marijuana Legalization: What Everyone Needs to Know (New York: Oxford University Press, 2012), 121.

[5]. Earleywine, Mitchell. Pot Politics: Marijuana and the Costs of Prohibition (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013), 143.

[6]. Hess, Kären. Introduction to Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice (Clifton Park, NY: Cengage Learning, 2012), 323.

[7]. Kopp, Pierre. Political Economy of Illegal Drugs and Associated Perspectives (London: Routledge, 2014), 67.