Posted: August 1st, 2023

Drugs to Legalise and Drugs not to Legalise

Drugs to Legalise and Drugs not to Legalise
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Abstract
Drugs that were once persecuted are now being legalized hence the debate on which drugs to make legal and which to make illegal. This has been a tough choice to make as most states and countries try to make the right judgment based on the evidence provided. This paper aims to present marijuana, LSD, and Ibogaine as some of the drugs that should be legalized while cocaine and heroin remain illegal. Another major aspect of this paper is that it focuses on the community as a whole when certain drugs are made legal. Since they are the immediate consumers of the drug, such decisions should be made with the thought of consumers as well as those around them. Marijuana has seen legalization over various states over the past years and there have been beneficial results ever since. LSD and Ibogaine however, are non-addictive psychedelics that are yet to be legalized. Cocaine and heroin are addictive and harmful to the human body; hence the need to keep them away from society. The reasons behind these judgments are discussed in a thoughtful and easy to understand manner to give more insight into the drugs.

Drugs to Legalise and Drugs not to Legalise
The never-ending debate on legalizing drugs has been going on for years as individuals try to justify the need for some drugs to be put off the market or retained in circulation as they offer certain benefits. Some individuals claim that marijuana, ibogaine, and LSD should be legalized for their healing capabilities. Other individuals are busy trying to fight the use of cocaine and heroin. Traditionally, banning certain drugs was the approach by governments to control certain drugs. However, today, it seems that people are blaming the war on drugs for increased consumption alongside other effects such as violence and gangs. The criminal law approach on drugs hasn’t decreased distribution either as the money made from these drugs has been used to finance illegal activities. Understanding the reason behind these debates is crucial for anyone hoping to support the legalization of any drug with the safety of their community at the back of their mind.
Marijuana
At the top of the list, marijuana is the most fought for with some states in America opting to legalize the drug. This is because marijuana is said to hold healing capabilities, and the legalization of the drug will most likely dismantle black markets. States that have made marijuana legal, have already attested to these claims to be true and not mere speculation. The black markets rely on illegal substances to make a profit hence, making the drug available to the public will diminish black market returns. Such a move may lead to lost business for the black market and increase safety within communities. It is the same black market that profit from marijuana that is also run by organized crime and connected to terrorist organizations. Giving them nothing to work with will surely hinder their operations and make the nation safer.
The healing capabilities of marijuana, however, are the biggest reason as to why the drug is sought to be legalized. Medicinal marijuana is said to treat several ailments that usual off the counter drugs are not able to assist with. Moreover, the cost of purchasing marijuana is relatively lower than the price of some of the drugs that are administered to serve the same purpose. Some of the ailments include seizures, amnesia, loss of appetite, epilepsy, anxiety, cancer, and problems due to chemotherapy. Todd (2018) claims that the act of criminalizing marijuana is bad for public health as there are drugs more harmful. There is also the fact that no documented death caused by marijuana has ever been made. Legalizing the drug seems harmless and the best option for the community.
Ibogaine
Ibogaine is another drug that is likely to be legalized to assist people with addiction problems. The Ibogaine drug is extracted from the Ibogaine bush, a plant found in Cameron and Gabon. This drug has been used for years by Shamans in Gabon as it was believed to have spiritual intelligence. For a long time, the drug has been considered illegal but recently, people are trying to convince the law to legalize it. There are concerns in America from parents; however, that school children are abusing the drug which has contributed negatively to campaigns aimed at making the drug legal. Iboga -short for ibogaine- is said to assist in reducing addiction among individuals who cannot quit using. Rehabilitation centers are known to use the drug to curb dependency which is a reason why the public needs the drug to be legalized. Issues such as panic attacks and anxiety are minimized as the drug acts as a counter to withdrawal symptoms.
Under controlled use, it is possible that the drug may be used by the home to aid addicts instead of taking them to rehab which is costly. The drug may indeed assist, but helping an addict requires teamwork (Nemira, 2019). Making the drug available off the counter seems like a reasonable step for many families that are looking for solutions to helping members with addiction problems. At home, addicts are likely to receive more attention from their loved ones as opposed to a center that may be overwhelmed with more patients. Many families are not even able to raise the money to put their members at such institutions. The drug is said to work for crack, alcohol, opiates and nicotine. Within a week, an addict can get back their healthy lives. The fact that addicts are made clean in a gentle manner makes the drug a necessity that could ease the burdens of most families.
LSD
LSD is a psychedelic drug that has beneficial effects on the user and also makes them embrace open-mindedness. For people who have a certain fear, they can feel less anxious once they take the drug. Also, traumatised users can use the drug and overcome whatever it is that is troubling them. This is because the drug is said to give the person an out of body experience where they go on a trip meant to enlighten them more. LSD digs deeper into the mind and calms users as they get to experience more than they can when they are sober. Like Iboga, it may also be used to reduce addiction as it gives the user a good high but zero addiction. Users can, therefore, use the drug to avoid side effects and yet still cut off their use of LSD whenever they see fit.
Unlike tobacco and alcohol, LSDs are said to be quite safe and not addictive. The law should consider the need for people to break from their routines and indulge in luxurious activities such as getting high (Carlos et al., 2019). Alcohol serves the same purpose, so why not settle for safer ways for people to get high/drunk. LSDs and other non-addictive drugs could be the answer to keeping the community free from health issues and at the same time spending their recreational time as they desire. The drug is also harmless to the body as there are no documented health effects to using LSD. Unlike alcohol, LSD opens the user’s mind to ideas that may be made possible in real life. The drug is as constructive as much as it is luxurious
Cocaine
Late last year, the labor government considered legalizing all drugs if the royal government gave it support. This is because the war on crime is helping gangs thrive and making children victims on social media. The approach taken towards harmful drugs may not be right but the thought of legalizing drugs such as cocaine is scarier. The Labour government wants to legalize all drugs and give users facilities where they could be monitored as they inject themselves as well as overdose prevention clinics (Wood, 2019). However, the main concern with legalizing drugs such as cocaine is the ability of the government to control its use and distribution. Once it’s in the market, it will be difficult to prevent potential business people from buying and selling. How then can society be sure that the drugs will be used as required? And in case of breaking the set norms, will there be consequences? It’s still hard to tell whether it’s possible to live in a society full of easily accessible drugs.
Despite the drug being hard to regulate, it is highly addictive. Once users start, it is hard to stop. Why? Because the high given by cocaine is relatively short hence the need to use more. There are also other side effects, such as erectile dysfunction whereby the user is not able to get an erection. This could be bad for individuals who are married as they could end up trapping their significant others in sexless marriages. Moreover, the withdrawal effects of cocaine are severe which makes it easier for users to recoil. Most of the symptoms are psychological and include slowed thinking, restlessness, suicidal thoughts, depression, or increased craving for the drug. Such a drug could not benefit the community if families are not able to stay together in harmony.
Heroine
The war on drugs should focus more on drugs that are as dangerous as heroin. This is one drug that may be considered as poison due to the damage it does to one’s body. When a user injects themselves with heroin, it attaches itself to opioid receptors. The heroine is concerted to morphine which gives the user a warm pleasurable rush. Depending on the quantity taken, the extremities of the individual experience a heavy feeling. There are also times when the user may experience nausea, serious skin irritation, and vomiting. The side effects however, are much worse since the breathing of the person slows down drastically as well as their heart functions. In some cases, very low breathing may be harmful as it may result in brain damage or a coma. The bad thing with using external means to trigger opioid receptors is that the amount of neurotransmitter dopamine released may increase which will result in drug use reinforcement.
Even though there are politicians who try to suggest the legalizing of heroin, it does not make sense to expose vulnerable people to such dangers. Some claim that all drugs should be legalized for recreation since adults can make their own choices (Hurley, 2016). However, it is vital to consider those in society who may not have the ability to make wise decisions. People in their youths are likely to experiment with a lot of drugs without proper knowledge of the specific drug they intend to take. There is, therefore, the need to keep some harmful drugs far away from easy access. Some politicians are looking towards making monetary gains from heroin users rather than protecting the community.
Conclusion
In conclusion, cocaine and heroin pose much danger to the community as opposed to LSD, Ibogaine, and Marijuana. The society needs to think on a more personal level rather than a financial one. Some of these hard drugs are being fought for legalization by people who want to profit from their sale. The consequences of using cocaine and heroin are too much for any community to bear due to their addictive properties as well as side effects. Drugs that pose an imminent danger to a person should not be legalized because it will be similar to allowing voluntary self-harm. Critical thinking is vital when making major decisions about drugs. Matters affecting the community should be analyzed in a not only sensible but also sensitive way.
References
Carlos A. Trujillo, Angela Trujillo & Diana Obando (2019) Does it matter if drugs are legal? Legalising decreases the influence of beliefs in a moral order in consumption among adolescents, Addiction Research & Theory, 27:6, 472-481, DOI: 10.1080/16066359.2018.1544626
Hurley, R. (2016). Consider legalising drugs despite UN treaties, says influential commission. BMJ: British Medical Journal (Online), 353.
Nemira. (2019). Ibogaine pros and cons. Retrieved from https://treatforlife.com/ibogaines-pros-and-cons/
Todd, T. (2018). The benefits of marijuana legalization and regulation. Berkeley J. Crim. L., 23, 99.
Wood, V. (2019). Labour to consider legalising all drugs including cocaine and heroine. Independent. Retrieved from https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-legalising-drugs-cannabis-heroin-cocaine-diane-abbott-david-lammy-a9106591.html

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