WordGen Weekly Unit 1.18

Should drugs be legalized?

decade | incompatible | temporarily | unify | violation

Do the Math

According to data released by the FBI, there were 10,310,960 arrests in the United States in 2018. Of these arrests, an estimated 1,654,282 were for drug abuse violations, the highest of any category. Americans are unified in their desire to reduce drug abuse but are divided about the best way to do that. Should we fight harder to get rid of illegal drugs? Or should we legalize them? Is drug legalization incompatible with a functioning society?

Drug Abuse Violation Arrests by Category

Option 1:

In 2018, there were 663,367 marijuana arrests in the United States. Of these arrests, 608,775 were for marijuana possession only. What percentage of the total marijuana arrests were for possession only?

A. 37%

B. 92%

C. 109%

D. 60%

Option 2:

Using the data provided above, of the 1,654,282 drug abuse arrests in 2018, how many more people were arrested for possession than for selling or manufacturing drugs in total?

Discussion Question:

In 2018, police made a drug arrest about every 19 seconds. Of the total drug arrests, approximately 86% of violations were for possession of drugs, rather than selling or manufacturing, and 37% of all arrests were for marijuana possession specifically. Some people suggest that laws be changed to focus on arrests for selling and manufacturing, rather than possession. Others believe we should legalize marijuana and focus on policing more dangerous drugs. Some states have begun to try out such policies. However, without unified national changes in drug laws, there will be problems. For example, California’s legalization of marijuana in 2018 was incompatible with federal anti-drug laws. Marijuana stores were permitted by state law but were still at risk of being raided by federal agents. If you were temporarily in charge of the nation’s drug policies, what strategy would you follow? What is the best strategy for reducing drug abuse in future decades?

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