Brandon Bitner
Period 3B
April 13, 2012
Should Drugs Be Legalized? A response to William Bennet
The argument of the legalization of drugs, especially marijuana, has become a very important political topic. Are drug users really responsible enough to use drugs for good? This is a very debatable subject which is why William Bennett has spent so much time making his case.
This article published in the 1990 March issue of Reader’s Digest was written by William Bennett. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York, got a PhD in philosophy from Texas, and a Law Degree from Harvard University. He was also the Drug Czar under President George Bush and wrote Book of Virtues: Treasury of Great Moral Stories. Bennett argues that we need to engage in a fight against the legalization activists. Bennett brought up four main points that activists use as their arguments and made his case against them. Firstly, he claims that Legalization will not take the profit out of drugs. Secondly, he claims that Legalization will in fact make the black market thrive instead of being eliminated. Thirdly, Legalization will not reduce crime and finally, drugs not only harm the users but harm innocent others as well. Although Bennett ignores the positive effects of drugs such as medicinal use, I believe that Bennett’s three strongest arguments were that Legalization will increase the profit out of drugs, it will increase crime, and finally drugs harm others as well as the user.
Bennett’s audience was not only directed towards those involved in legislation but to everyone who may be affected by drugs. He uses real life experiences that ratify his arguments which allow him to connect with the reader much more effectively. He also uses his factual writing style to successfully bring out his purpose which is to inform the public that drugs are the last thing that should be legalized because the cons far outweigh the pros.
Drugs can be used for good especially for medical uses. Drugs that are illegal as of now have great pain reducing power and they can calm down the user. One drug that has become a huge political icon is marijuana. This drug can work wonders and also may give the user an enjoyable experience. When used properly the benefit of drugs can be helpful to society. Ira Glasser said that “It is the high price of drugs that leads addicts to robbery, murder and other crimes.” If we lower the price of drugs and make them legal, then the people dependant on them will be able to use drugs more freely and legally.
In Contrast to the activists beliefs Bennett explains that Legalization will actually increase the profit out of drugs. I agree with this because as drugs become more and more available, dealers will still use the black market to sell deadly variations of drugs that may not be sold at drug stores. Also, teenagers who will be banned from buying drugs will be able to buy drugs through a new and improved black market. Also, legalization will create a premature group of users because it will be so much easier for younger kids to get a hold of them.
With such availability of mind altering drugs, crime rates will most definitely increase. Bennett claims that “under the influence of drugs, normal people do not act normally, and abnormal people behave in chilling and horrible ways.” DEA agents have studied that crime rates are highest where crack is cheapest. I have an uncle who was in the terrible trap of drug addiction so I know firsthand the affects it has on people. Drugs got him involved with crime such as theft because he was willing to do anything just to get more. He also developed a terrible mental condition known as schizophrenia which aided him in his crime. Drugs finally took his life when he was about 40 years old due to an overdose. This was a terrible thing to see because he had so much potential and it was all ruined because of drugs.
Just like with my uncle, drugs not only harm others but harm the user as well. Take a pregnant woman who is addicted to drugs for instance. The fetus inside her body is so affected by these drugs that it will most likely have either physical or mental problems for the rest of its life. Why should innocent people pay for such bad behavior? This is definitely the strongest argument against activists because it is childish to believe that drugs only affect the user. “Everything is about getting high” so if stealing, lying, and even killing is necessary to get more than it is going to happen. The user’s old values are totally thrown out the window and are now controlled and consumed by this new drug. Others can be harmed by drug addicts even if it isn’t on purpose. It seems like every day that you hear on the news that innocent people were involved in a car crash just because someone was doing drugs while driving. There was a boy in my neighborhood who was driving while on drugs and alcohol and crashed into some people which ultimately killed an innocent family. It is hard to see such terrible things happen to good people who would ordinarily perform such evil.
There is no question in my mind that drugs should never become legalized. I totally agree with Bennett’s arguments that legalization will increase the profit out of drugs, it will increase crime, and that drugs harm others as well as the user. I have had personal experiences that back up my opinion which is why I am as adamant about the subject as Bennett is. Ultimately, legalization is only feeding the problem of addiction.