Against the Legalization of Drugs & Why We Should Decriminalize Drug Use

Ryan Lipparelli

Patrick Russell

English 102

19 February 2013

Against the Legalization of Drugs &

Why We Should Decriminalize Drug Use

I found very interesting facts in both of these men's papers, along with the most pompous things I have ever read in an article of literature. It was really confusing to read a numerous amount of hypocritically, along with ultimatum-based arguments. I think if there were a median between the two of these articles I would find myself with a little more patience, and possibly agreement in what they are trying to say.

In James Q. Wilson's "Against the Legalization of Drugs," I not only found myself squeezing the book a little tighter due to anger, but also rubbing my head at the lack of a thought process behind his paper. To begin, he states on page 331, "If we had yielded in 1972 we almost certainly would have had today a permanent population of several million, not several hundred thousand heroin addicts. If we yield now we will have a far more serious problem with cocaine." I am not sure if this paper was written in 1973, or he really just pulled that fact out of thin air, but it could not be more fallacious. In every piece of documentation, specifically The Union (a marijuana-related documentary), it is epitomized that the amount of drug users and characteristics of drug users would not fluctuate by the legalization of a certain substance. Wilson also states, "It took ten years to contain heroin." What? His whole article is about how it is not contained! He further goes on to make the argument that society has the moral liberty to stop this "drug war," does this not mean that they also have the fundamental moral liberty to do drugs? Leading in nicely to Douglas Husak's piece, "Why We Should Decriminalize Drug Use."

My favorite thing about this piece, was his beginning in introducing what he defines as decriminalization, along with his questioning of the every day thoughts and preconceived notions society has created. Despite this, Mr. Husak also makes some rather outlandish statements. For example, "...it is plausible to suppose that drug users should not be punished at all." Although I think I like where his head is, this is another example of a man arguing in ultimatums. I really enjoyed his arguments about how "criminalization" is how we should look at it, even though he makes another thoughtless statement shortly after, stating, "The status quo must be defended." Lastly, I enjoyed Husak's references to legalities. I truly believe that this "illicit drug" topic is one of political importance, not ethical conversation.

"Recreational" use of