English 111-MJI07
Experience and the law of economics prove that where there is demand, there will always be a supply. For this reason, among others, prohibition will not solve the drug problem in the United States. The prohibition of harmful substances has already been attempted in the United States, and has already shown to be ineffective in the past century. This was the case with alcohol. People, who wanted to get the coveted drink, found a way to get it (Doremus and Canet 4). Of course, in order to buy alcohol, which was not recognized legally, people went to the underground sellers. These sellers and dealers are the exact people who created and have grown the black market. A great price of the prohibited substance of alcohol did not stop people from using or abusing alcohol. The same thing happens today because of the fact that people who want to try something forbidden will always find a way to get the substance and the money they need to purchase it. This in turn increases the incomes of the suppliers of such illegal substances and, consequently, their influence grows. They receive tools for better protection and more weapons for themselves. as well as for developing new substances that cause more dependence and addiction.
In addition, suppliers of drugs and other potentially harmful substances will have more money and more money expands their power. They use money to pay large bribes to officials, who will provide them with patronage. Furthermore, since the income from the sale of banned substances is not regulated by law and not subject to tax, the bosses of these underground structures will be richer with every minute. Consequently, they will be able to influence legislation and litigation. This, in turn, can contribute to further spread of various drugs or alcohol if it is also forbidden. An excellent example of how the black market can grow and become almost an independent state institution is the Sicilian Mafia.
The members of this mafia are very influential people who subordinated the lawyers, judges, politicians and representatives of the police and army. The mafia has a substantial amount of leverage to do everything to facilitate their activities, which includes engaging in the illegal drug trade (Doremus and Canet 5). That is, it turns out that the government and state structures, which were designed and intended to deal with various types of illegal controlled substances are beginning to contribute to the spread of these substances themselves. In other words, the legalization of harmful substances is ineffective in the fight against drugs. Furthermore, the prohibition of controlled substances is not an option, since it contributes to the increase in crime rate, rather than fight it. Those who are dependent and addicted to illegal controlled substances will continue to always obtain the drug desired, so that the main purpose of discouraging people from the use of harmful substances is not performed. Since a legislative ban does not help in achieving this goal, there is a need to come up with another way to reduce the consumption of controlled substances. Because the ban only stimulates the black market, which the government can find it very difficult to fight with, since the stricter the laws are becoming, the more the drug lords are getting richer.
However, the fact that drug use is difficult to fight does not mean that this should not be done. Of course, any ban on the use of anything will be accompanied by a clandestine trade. A black market existed, exists and will exist. However, the effect obtained by the prohibition of controlled substances is likely to bring more good than harm. Firstly, as prices on the black market will be huge, not all people will make a decision to buy and try the illegal drugs. Experience shows that an increase in the prices causes the fall in demand. This works even with the sale of such legal things like alcohol and cigarette, and it is also effective in the case of drugs (Doremus and Canet 9). In addition, the example of the ban on alcohol in the twentieth century does not seem quite appropriate, since this drink has a long history of its use in Western culture.
Furthermore, even in those days, the possession of alcohol was not illegal, unlike the situation with drugs today. At the same time, if the government allows the use of controlled substances, their spread can be huge. In general, the question of the development of the black market is mainly limited by the price of the banned product (Mineta). Indeed, addicted people will find one or another way to get the money for the desired products, but this only applies to people who has already tried drugs and now addicted to them. Those people who have not experienced something forbidden, may not ever try it because of the high prices. In other words, the black market is not necessarily will have to grow because of the prohibition of certain substances. Furthermore, if the drugs are still allowed, their consumption would increase significantly due to lower prices and the lack of punishment for their use. The experience of the Netherlands is very vivid. Dutch have legalized marijuana and received a doubling in the regular consumption of marijuana among the young people. Another example is strictly controlled and legal medication OxyContin, which was the reason for a large number of deaths from unintentional overdose. Thus, even if a substance is used strictly on prescription, still, some drugs may be the cause of death. Therefore, for such patients there can be prescribed other medications that also will not contribute to the development of a black market. People simply will not need drugs, because they will have more secure means. In addition, because of the potential penalties for the use of banned state-controlled substances, many people will not attempt to get it at all. Consequently, the increase in the market will not happen, as it can be after the legalization of certain substances. In addition, with adequate advocacy and promotion of healthy lifestyle, fewer people will be involved in the trade and in the purchase of drugs. Therefore, making substances, that classified controlled, outside the law does not necessarily lead to an increase in the black market. In addition, involvement in the activities of the black market can cause a penalty, a threat of which could deter many of the solutions to try this or that substance.
It had been claimed that outlawing controlled substances is likely not create a larger black market, or at least it will not be the only consequence. Arguments in favor of the fact that a black market will expand and strengthen its influence in a society do not seem very reasonable, as many people simply will not be involved in the purchase of drugs. Most likely, the situation of clandestine trafficking in controlled substances will remain at the same level as the number of drug addicts will be more or less static. At the same time, after legalizing harmful to the human body preparations, society will suffer considerable damage. The number of addicted people will increase, but the black market will not disappear. Thus, the outlawing of controlled substances will have a much more positive effect than their widespread use can ever make. Also, there is no evidence and prerequisites to the fact that the black market will necessarily grow. Therefore, the drugs should continue to be considered illegal, and the government should deal with it with a help of other methods than make illegal substances available.
The solution, thus, to the drug problem is not legalization but rather further restrictions that impact the black market. The black market can only be impacted by further drug policies and restrictions. Stricter drug penalization laws during the war on drugs did not have an impact on the problem and only increased the prison population, which created further problems. As discussed above, legalization would only further the problem. Further restrictions in the form of a larger crack down on drug import and manufacturing and cultivating could be an effective solution.
Addressing the import of illegal drugs is one way to decrease the drug problem in the United States. Interdiction and seizure of drugs could also be a solution to the drug problem in the United States. The black market must be decreased or disabled and this could occur if more drugs were interdicted and seized prior to arrival into the United States. Stopping the profit in the black market would decrease the drug networks of the black market. Additionally, disabling the import and supply of illegal drugs into the United States could eliminate the black market and lead to a less sophisticated smuggling operations.
Manufacturing and cultivating of controlled substances are foundations to the drug problem that can be addressed to solve the drug epidemic in the United States is one of the largest producers of marijuana in the world. Aerial eradication of crops and identification of manufacturing plants can reduce crop yields. Directly interfering with the production of illegal controlled substance will hamper the black market and reduce the drug problem in the United States.
Reaching to the core of the problem would also require an understanding of drug dependence and addiction. It is commonly known that drug use, legal or illegal, has the potential effect of dependence and addiction. Drug dependence is a compulsive drive to continue consumption of a drug regardless of serious adverse consequences. Individual traits as well as social vulnerability are responsible for dependence. Implementing policies that address education level, employment status, needed human services, as well as psychological processes are better methods of reducing the drug problem.
The debate over the problem of drugs in The United States is a highly debated and politically relevant topic today. Many argue that the solution to The United States’s drug problem is illegalization of controlled substances. Others claim that legalizing controlled substances expands the black market. Experience has shown that legalization does not affect use and in fact increases the existence of the black market for drugs. The only effective way to address the black market and the drug problem in the United States is to disable the black market which can be done by addressing the cultivation, production and distribution of illegal drugs, and by reaching to the core of the problem of drug dependence.
Works Cited
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