Legalization of Drugs

The legalization of drugs, especially with respect to the crime rate has become a major concerning issue in recent years. Dr. Michael Babula, a 2008 hopeful in Maryland’s fourth congressional district (www.babula2008.com), has a very lucid stand on the matter and that is legalization is by all means necessary to reduce nationwide crime.
Dr. Babula’s argument is an easily agreeable one, and that is the United States needs to come to terms with the fact that the war on drugs has been lost. Additionally, the legalization of drugs would therefore lead to a decrease in crime and murder rates due to the increased availability and significantly decreased prices of the drugs. Dr. Babula’s opponents, Donna Edwards and Albert Wynn remain undisclosed about the issue of legalizing drugs according to their campaign websites.
The end of the prohibition on drugs and their entrance into the free market will negate the economic incentive for illegal cartels. An interesting supporting case of this argument is that of Gustavo de Greiff’s, the man responsible for gutting the Medellin cartel and hunting down the richest cocaine trafficker. He believes nothing has happened in the big picture in regards to the shutting down of the Medellin cartel and the execution of Pablo Escobar. His analysis is that of the following; the price and quantity of drugs in major cities such as Miami, New York and Los Angeles did not change at all leading Greiff to believe that the only alternative is legalization. The most significant aspect of his argument is that he does not see this as an “invitation to consume more drugs or create a thriving market for them. Instead, Mr. de Greiff envisions the legal regulation, production and trade of drugs (thereby eliminating the trafficker), combined with education campaigns on the hazards of drugs and on effective treatment programs” (The Globe and Mail, A8). Mr. de Greiff’s visa into the United States was subsequently revoked on the basis that he associated with drug dealers, rumors that were in turn acknowledged to have spouted from de Greiff’s enemies. It is difficult to believe that the revoking of de Greiff’s visa also was not very convenient for the US government to refuse to acknowledge the possibility that this may be the right path to follow in order to solve the problem.
A similar argument comes from a former New Jersey undercover narcotics officer by the name of Jack Cole. "At the moment we have no control over drugs, whereas if they are legalized, we would have 75 percent or 80 percent control. It would also allow us to take a lot of money that is spent enforcing the law and put it into education and rehabilitation" (The Herald (Glasgow) 17).
In conclusion, it seems quite evident that if something is prohibited, there is no way to control or regulate how it is produced, which in turn leads to the question of how can the war on drugs be won without legalization?




Works Cited



Mason, Gary. "Legalizing Drugs: the Grand,Scary Scope." The Globe and Mail (2006): a8-a8. LexisNexis Academic. Loyola College, Baltimore. 21 Jan. 2008. Keyword: 'legalization of drugs'.

Cunningham, Jennifer. "Q: How Do We Win the War on Drugs? a: by Making Them Legal." The Herald (Glasgow) (2006): 17. LexisNexis Academic. Loyola College, Baltimore. 21 Jan. 2008. Keyword: 'legalization of drugs'.

Michael Babula Congressio. "Dr. Michael Babula for Congress 2008." Michael Babula for Congress Maryland 4th District. 21 Jan. 2008 .