In 1971, President Nixon declared a “war on drugs.” He called for stricter policies and increased enforcement by police, which led to more arrests and harsher punishments. Although studies indicate similar rates of drug use across races, the enforcement of these policies has disproportionately targeted communities of color. Decades later, many are saying the “war on drugs” has been lost.

Advocates of drug legalization have proposed that drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and heroin be legalized. They point to the high cost to U.S. taxpayers associated with drug-related convictions and incarcerations. At the same time, there is little evidence that people stop using drugs after an arrest. They also report that drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation are less expensive and more effective than incarceration.

Some advocates for legalization use the Prohibition era as a comparison. Between 1920 and 1933, buying and selling alcohol was prohibited in the U.S. During those years, alcohol was sold illegally and violent crime spiked as sellers fought with each other. Now, however, selling alcohol to adults 21 or older is not a violation of the law, and it is no longer a source of violent crime. Legalization supporters use the example of Prohibition to suggest that the world of drugs would be safer if selling or having drugs in your possession wasn’t a criminal violation.

Opponents of drug legalization say that it isn’t fair to compare alcohol to other drugs. They point to the high addiction and overdose rates for drugs like cocaine and heroin. Other highly addictive opioids, such as fentanyl, morphine, and oxycodone, are illegal unless prescribed by a doctor. In 2018 alone, 67,367 people died from drug overdoses in the United States.

Opponents of legalization also worry that people may be more likely to experiment with drugs if they do not fear legal prosecution. This would be especially dangerous for individuals with a family history of addiction. They also point out that, while 54% of Americans age 12 and older report use of alcohol in the last 30 days, 11% report using illegal drugs. They say that by making these dangerous drugs legal, drug use will increase, along with the negative consequences for drug users and those affected by them.

Former Congressman Charles Rangel believes that legalizing drugs is incompatible with initiatives aimed at improving the lives of urban youth. He feels strongly that legalization would cause more young black men to die. He is outraged that the U.S. government has not made the drug problem a higher priority. Rangel advocates for unifying and strengthening efforts to fight drug abuse.

Some people advocate for legalizing marijuana but not other drugs. They argue that if people can legally obtain marijuana, they will not seek out stronger drugs. But others worry that marijuana may become a gateway to more dangerous drugs.

What do you think? Should we temporarily legalize all drugs and see what happens to crime levels and overdose numbers? Or is the risk too great that more people will become addicted to harmful substances?