The War on Drugs
The United States has continuously been fighting a losing war on drugs, spending billions of dollars and imprisoning seemingly innocent individuals. There is minimal evidence that drug use and possession has decreased because of what our government has spent on the war. Many valid points have been brought up by various professionals on whether or not this battle should continue to be fought in the same way, and what benefits and disadvantages legalizing certain drugs could bring our society.
First, there are reasons that should be considered in the defense of continuing the war. For the past few decades, American society has been obsessed with healthy lifestyles. If we are so concerned with healthy living, then why stop the war on drugs or attempt to legalize them? Drugs have been made illegal because of their intoxicating effects on the brain, damaging impact on the body, and potential for abuse.
English: A National Police OV-10 plane sprays herb...
Operation Mallorca, US Drug Enforcement Administra...
Sailors on USS Rentz (FFG 46) combat a fire set by...Their use threatens the health, welfare, and safety of all people. If America were to discontinue this battle against drugs, it would also take away many job opportunities throughout the country. The entire DEA force would be out of employment, and there would be less of a need for police officers. Another reason to continue fighting this battle is to prevent the amount of abuse that would occur if drugs were made legal. If illicit drugs such as heroin and marijuana were as easy to get a hold of as alcohol and tobacco, there would be an increase in usage, especially by the younger population. There would be no incentives for people to not get involved with drugs because there would be no more punishments for it.
Alternatively, the war on drugs has wasted more of our government's money than any other single war that America has...