Recreational drug use is using drugs with the intention of recreation. There are different categories of drugs used for recreational purposes such as alcohol, nicotine and caffeine and many others. In many countries, use of some drugs is not legal (Charles 32). Legalization is allowing something to be done in public without any law actions taken. Therefore, legalizing recreational drug use is allowing selling and using of drugs in public. In other cases, an illegal use of these drugs has some negative effects on both social and economic aspects. This tells why many counties have banned the use of these drugs in public. However, even though it is illegal, people are still practicing this business and government is unaware of the losses it incurs. This tells why governments from different countries should support use of recreational drugs in their states because it would be of more benefit to public than before.
Recreational drugs are supposed to be legalized, as it is the opinion of many people. This is because it will reduce drug related crimes caused by users of those drugs. For example, in the year 2005, there were more than ten thousand reported cases. This is a large number, which is even threatening security of the whole country. It will also contribute to transparency because regardless of being illegal, many people engage in sale of these drugs.(Charles 45). In addition, more job opportunities are going to be created by those who are in black markets. As many people get jobs, the economy is going to improve at a higher rate. When drug users sell these drugs in the black markets, it benefits few people. Drugs lords do this business in darkness and uses money got from selling of drugs alone. This means the economy loses a lot of money in drugs trafficking. In 1995, drugs worth $2 million were found in the airport. This shows that many people still access drugs regardless of them being illegal.
Drug lords have used this opportunity of illegalizing drugs to exploit beggars and people in the streets who are approximately three million. This is because when they become addicted, they have to use the drug hence drug lords will sell any time and impose high prices making more profits. If the government legalizes use of drugs, such people can go to government institutions and buy them at relatively fair prices, and they can get advice from authority on how to take them. This will reduce deaths caused by irresponsible taking of drugs. Through legalization, monitoring consumption of drugs will be comprehensible and will assist relevant authority to address the issue cheaply.
It is due to the black market that there is many drug related crimes and fatalities in the country. This is because once someone becomes an addict and he/she has no money to buy the drug he/she decides to steal to get them. This means he/she has to commit crime to get drugs. Overdosing is also the leading negative effect because nobody is willing to go to hospitals to get assistance from doctors (Katter, 78). The government also incurs smuggling cost, which could not be there if it considered legalizing these drugs. This money spent trying to reduce smuggling of drugs can be used for economic development.
Murder cases can also be reduced. In many cases, when an addict fails to pay for drugs already taken, there is a likelihood of a fight, which can lead to death. This is because of a huge amount of money needed, and once someone fails to pay, the seller gets a lot of loss. This can be reduced if the government intervene and create competition with drug lords. They will now negotiate for favorable prices, which is affordable to everybody. The government will also reduce costs incurred trying to curb illegal production and sales of those drugs, stealing and smuggling of drugs (Ronald 102). In addition, monitoring can be easy, and restrictions can be put to eliminate a certain age especially young people from taking drugs. For example, when recreational drugs are legal, children can be restricted from taking these drugs at an early age.
Every year government allocates about $100million to fight against drug trafficking. These funds could have been used for other purposes in the economy. Legalizing drugs will reduce unnecessary expenditure on control of use of drugs and this will avail more funds for the government to spend in beneficial projects.
The government can be able to get a lot of many once it legalizes use of drugs. It can impose more taxes to companies and drugs business people. When it is illegal, drug mafia pockets a lot of money from this inelastic business whose demand is always high. Drug selling benefits few people and the rest suffer from their effects (Ronald 152). Therefore, when legalized tax imposed can be used to create job opportunities hence improving living standards of people hence growth of the economy.
Drugs such as cannabis are not harmful to people’s health. It will be advantageous to the users in a many ways. They have been proved to be of importance to the medical field. Some of these drugs like Antihistamines cure allergies, but are still illegal (Inciardi, 352). People suffering from allergies use it in hidden places fearing to be caught by the authority. Stimulants increase alertness, awareness, and productivity of individuals when used. Economically, that person can work for a long time and, therefore, increasing his/her production ability towards his/her lives.
In conclusion, drug use has been illegal for a long time, and its impacts are still going up every day. This can be reduced when government make use of drugs legal and public. Crimes are going to reduce, and government will get revenue, when the drugs are sold in the black market. In addition, the government is going to save lives of affected street people. Money used to fight against sales of such drugs will be used to develop the economy. When it is legalized, government should also come up with some laws to limits its jurisdiction so that some procedures are to be followed before starting such a business. Business people who will be selling drugs should pay tax, and they must be monitored to ensure equality in terms of amounts to be paid by each person.
References
- Charles, E. Faupel; Alan M. Horowitz, The Sociology of American Drug Use. (2010). Washington, McGraw Hill
- Inciardi, James A. The War on Drugs II. (1992Mayfield Publishing Company.
- Siegel, Ronald K Intoxication: The universal drive for mind-altering substances. (2005). Vermont: Park Street Press
- Kotter, Jp . The Economist. 2009
