Get off my grass arguments for, and against the legalisation of narcotics. 


In the world we live in it is almost impossible to avoid some form of escapism be it good or bad in nature.
One of the greatest forms of escapism is narcotics which have been around since the days of Christ. 


However despite many types of drugs, and drug users from the recreational college marijuana experience to hardcore coke heads the general opinion of the public at large is that drugs are bad for the individual, and society.


In this article I hope to argue both sides of the cause to discover what the truth actually is to present the issue in a fair, and balanced fashion. To do this I will look at the historical use, of drugs, and argue from a common sense position for both legalisation, and banning of narcotics.

Are drugs bad

The first argument against having drugs legal always has been that the effects of drugs are detrimental to society, and the effects ranging from bodily effects like psychosis to the damage to people , and property caused by people under their influence is enough to justify the banning of drugs outright.

Despite this argument it can be said who are we to prevent others from destroying their own health but from an opposing view point a person despite probably destroying their own lives from employment to health from drug use, they should not be allowed to hurt others or, damage their property. 

It should be noted though not all drug use has been chaotic, and destructive, and it can be argued the experiences a user has, and manifests on others has not always being to the detriment to the user, and society for example many great songs, and ideas that created the world we live in, and saved, and created many lives be them economic or spiritual have come from narcotic users.

As an example George Washington himself was an avid drug user, and America's first president, and his legacy still lives in the world we have today. So from an argumentative standpoint drug use is both negative, and positive and drugs can neither be labelled good or bad due to mixed perspectives, and personal experiences.

Do drugs cause crime?

Another argument against drug legalisation is that drugs will cause crime, and giving people legal highs will make the problem worse as drug use will spiral out of control causing a crime wave . From evidence to date in Holland where marijuana is legal for residents crime is rather stable from most citizens accounts, and despite increased marijuana use at first drug use has not reached a point of concern.

This is despite the famed gateway effect, and in Holland increased marijuana use did not lead on to heavy use of lethal cocaine or heroine. People who buy drugs off criminals at the end of the day usually do so for escapist reasons once lighter forms of escape prove futile for example Kurt Cobain whom suffered from extreme stomach pain only cured by heroine.

Many heavy drugs do indeed have positive uses but should that warrant them being legalised on mass perhaps not but will them legal lead to increased crime the answer is a resounding no for example prohibition ( banning) of America's historic drug alcohol in the 30s increased crime to fever pitched proportions from daily murder to bootlegging.

Crime will probably be unaffected by drug legalisation as drug dealers will merely undercut the price of legal highs just as they do at the moment with cheap box's of cigarettes.

Conclusion 

It can be seen from the above arguments their are no real clear cut reasons for the legalisation of drugs , and their are both benefits to be gained from having some use of drugs so perhaps the best that can be hoped for is a middle ground with some legalisation to gain some of the creative benefits of narcotics while avoiding the destructive influences of it.