Block, Walter E., and Violet Obioha. "War On Black Men: Arguments For The Legalization Of Drugs." Criminal Justice Ethics 31.2 (2012): 106-120. Academic Search Complete. Web. 1 Nov. 2015.
One of the less thought of reasons for drug reform is to protect the black community. People from the black community, specifically young men, are stereotyped and given worse treatment than their caucasian counterparts. People from the black community are targeted as being drug dealers, traffickers, and users. If the laws on drugs were to be loosened or if drug reform were to come in full effect, the stereotyping, targeting, and incarceration of the who are innocent may reduce exponentially. Obviously, there is no real way to know, but there is hope that if the laws did not exist of which black people are heavily stereotyped for, specifically the laws involving drug restraint, many members of the black community could feel a little safer in their own skin, because although it is a fully separate issue, the black stereotyping and targeting in America is outrageous and if drug reform can help member of the black community as well as help for many other reasons then it should be put into effect.
One of the less thought of reasons for drug reform is to protect the black community. People from the black community, specifically young men, are stereotyped and given worse treatment than their caucasian counterparts. People from the black community are targeted as being drug dealers, traffickers, and users. If the laws on drugs were to be loosened or if drug reform were to come in full effect, the stereotyping, targeting, and incarceration of the who are innocent may reduce exponentially. Obviously, there is no real way to know, but there is hope that if the laws did not exist of which black people are heavily stereotyped for, specifically the laws involving drug restraint, many members of the black community could feel a little safer in their own skin, because although it is a fully separate issue, the black stereotyping and targeting in America is outrageous and if drug reform can help member of the black community as well as help for many other reasons then it should be put into effect.
Crandall, Russell. "Drug Wars." Survival (00396338) 55.4 (2013): 229-240. Academic Search Complete. Web. 1 Nov. 2015.
The countries in South America know better than anybody the full effect of drug illegality. Honduras, the murder capital of the world, and one of the leading countries involved in illicit drug trafficking and trading has suggested the decrimilazitaion of marijuana, and if all goes well, for the decriminalization of all drugs. Not only does he recognize that the cost of incarcerating all of those guilty of some of these absurd laws, but in general, the ruble's drug laws create are greater that the problems it solves. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina said that they and the world need an approach to drug control “based on health, harm reduction, cost effectiveness, and respect for human rights (Crandall, 2).” The both of them recognized that the outcome from an outlook such as this would be far more beneficial than criminalization. It is time to legalize.
The countries in South America know better than anybody the full effect of drug illegality. Honduras, the murder capital of the world, and one of the leading countries involved in illicit drug trafficking and trading has suggested the decrimilazitaion of marijuana, and if all goes well, for the decriminalization of all drugs. Not only does he recognize that the cost of incarcerating all of those guilty of some of these absurd laws, but in general, the ruble's drug laws create are greater that the problems it solves. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina said that they and the world need an approach to drug control “based on health, harm reduction, cost effectiveness, and respect for human rights (Crandall, 2).” The both of them recognized that the outcome from an outlook such as this would be far more beneficial than criminalization. It is time to legalize.
Gettman, Jon, and Michael Kennedy. "Let It Grow--The Open Market Solution To Marijuana Control." Harm Reduction Journal 11.1 (2014): 1-17. Academic Search Complete. Web. 22 Oct. 2015.
Jon Gettman and Michael Kennedy the parallel nature of todays drug situation, specifically in the sense of marijuana, to prohibition. Legalization would eliminate the black market, and begin generating state revenue. Also, the author points out that if the government controlled marijuana distribution, there would be more control of limiting the use of the drug by minors, a highly controversial piece of the already controversial topic. A fear which the author has is that the dropped price in marijuana due to full legality in production will lead to increased use due to ease of accessibility. The way we fix this though is by raising the taxes on marijuana to increase government profits as well as balance out the ease of accessibility factor that comes with a lower price than the black market offers.
Jon Gettman and Michael Kennedy the parallel nature of todays drug situation, specifically in the sense of marijuana, to prohibition. Legalization would eliminate the black market, and begin generating state revenue. Also, the author points out that if the government controlled marijuana distribution, there would be more control of limiting the use of the drug by minors, a highly controversial piece of the already controversial topic. A fear which the author has is that the dropped price in marijuana due to full legality in production will lead to increased use due to ease of accessibility. The way we fix this though is by raising the taxes on marijuana to increase government profits as well as balance out the ease of accessibility factor that comes with a lower price than the black market offers.
Laqueur, Hannah. "Uses And Abuses Of Drug Decriminalization In Portugal." Law & Social Inquiry 40.3 (2015): 746-781. Academic Search Complete. Web. 22 Oct. 2015.
In 2001, Portugal decriminalized possession, consumption, and distribution of small quantities of psychoactive drugs. The black market for psychoactive drugs is a lot smaller than prescription drugs as well as marijuana, so the outcome is obviously different. The change in law began to decrease those convicted of drug trafficking significantly, yet the number of arrests was still very similar to before the law was put into effect. The most important statistic that appeared was the number of those convicted dropped by nearly 50%. If we had those convicted of drug offenses in America set free due to incarceration by a crime which is now deemed legal, taxpayer money would be saved because nearly 25% of our prison population would no longer be incarcerated.
In 2001, Portugal decriminalized possession, consumption, and distribution of small quantities of psychoactive drugs. The black market for psychoactive drugs is a lot smaller than prescription drugs as well as marijuana, so the outcome is obviously different. The change in law began to decrease those convicted of drug trafficking significantly, yet the number of arrests was still very similar to before the law was put into effect. The most important statistic that appeared was the number of those convicted dropped by nearly 50%. If we had those convicted of drug offenses in America set free due to incarceration by a crime which is now deemed legal, taxpayer money would be saved because nearly 25% of our prison population would no longer be incarcerated.
Youngers, Coletta A. "A Turning Point For Drug Policy." NACLA Report On The Americas 47.2 (2014): 21-27. Academic Search Complete. Web. 1 Nov. 2015.
This source illustrates how “Americas addiction to punishment (Youngers 2)” is extremely similar to an addicts necessity for drugs. An addict who uses drugs constantly, uses and abuses so much that's or her drug addiction is now not to get high, for their body is so used to being high that the drugs they use have almost no effect on them, rather they use drugs to avoid withdrawal. Similarly, America increases punishments and creates new laws to combat drug trafficking and distribution, yet their outcome produces little to nothing. Just how an addict increases their doses of use when they begin to longer feel high, The United States increases punishments and regulation when the black market of drugs no longer feels the power of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).
This source illustrates how “Americas addiction to punishment (Youngers 2)” is extremely similar to an addicts necessity for drugs. An addict who uses drugs constantly, uses and abuses so much that's or her drug addiction is now not to get high, for their body is so used to being high that the drugs they use have almost no effect on them, rather they use drugs to avoid withdrawal. Similarly, America increases punishments and creates new laws to combat drug trafficking and distribution, yet their outcome produces little to nothing. Just how an addict increases their doses of use when they begin to longer feel high, The United States increases punishments and regulation when the black market of drugs no longer feels the power of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).