Drug Legalization Is a Highly Controversial Issue,

Drug legalization is a highly controversial issue, which has been given top priority in political agenda. Many oppose legalization of cocaine but there are just as many people favoring legalization on various grounds. It is important to study both sides of the problem to see if legalization is practical or not. Those who oppose legalization of drugs maintain that cocaine is a dangerous drug which if legalized will send the wrong message that "it is OK to try such drugs" (Legalizing drugs may not be bad idea: 17 A). Opponents maintain that it is the responsibility of law enforcement agencies and other authorities to maintain stricter control over drug use in order to maintain "a delicate balance on drug initiatives." (Hemenway, 2002)

Drug legalization is a sensitive issue that many regard as problematic and believe that it is not in the jurisdiction of United States to allow or disallow legalization of drugs. Those who vehemently oppose legalization believe that it is an international issue, which must be resolved as such because according to international agreements and treaties, drugs such as marijuana, cocaine and heroin are "illegal and addictive." (Hemenway, 2002) researches and studies have also refuted the claim that cocaine had medical properties thereby giving the opponents all the more reason not to support its legalization. Opponents also feel that legalization of cocaine would lead to problems such as drug addiction which lead to, "higher crime, higher health care costs, increased emergency room visits, spousal and child abuse, foster care, injuries, deaths from drugged drivers and lost economic productivity." (Hemenway, 2002)

But not everyone opposes legalization of cocaine. There is a section of the society that maintains that these drugs are not as dangerous as they are made out to be and thus should be legalized just as alcohol. Research shows that overtly oppressive drug laws have led to an undesirable explosion in the prison population as drug dealers are out behind bars on minor charges. This is resulting in over-crowding of prisons and causing psychological and physical damages to inmates. A comprehensive study proves that, "alcohol and tobacco are highly addictive and kill massive numbers of people, while neither of these effects have been demonstrated in marijuana use" (Nordberg, 2000). Another study takes into account the problems associated with stricter drug laws as they maintain that prison inmates are also used as low-wage workers who are forced to work under sub-human conditions and suffer at the hands of oppressive corporate giants. For this reason, they feel that prison should be turned into an exclusive place for hard-core criminals on charges of homicide and other serious offences. Drug dealers and drug addicts on the other hand should be placed in rehabilitation centers instead of prison. And only legalization can make this possible.