Writing Prompt: They Say / I Say: Exercise: #1 (pp. 90-91)
NOTE: After posting on the blog, open up the CANVAS assignment (by the same name) and DO copy and paste the URL address into the CANVAS "WEB URL" text box so that I have record of your submission on Canvas. Thanks.
I know that many drug users would probably object that the U.S should be a drug free society, but I see differently. I am not talking about pharmaceutical drugs but illegal drugs. Drugs can interfere with brain function, which can cause people to act differently. I know everyone has a different reaction to drugs but the people who turn violent should have consequences. A situation can turn from someone just wanting to get a momentary euphoria to them harming citizens on the street. The war on drugs should not be stopped because both drug users and non-drug users can end up getting hurt.
ReplyDeleteProponents of the war on drugs are right to argue that substance abuse is a big problem for many American lives. But they exaggerate when they claim that this illicit war on drugs is doing anything to help this. Yet some readers may challenge my view by insisting that I am ‘pro-drug’ and that I stand for recreational drug use in America, this is not the case. It is not that I support the drugs, I only believe that the war on drugs is not helping the situation. Rather, it is worsening it by putting nonviolent “criminals” behind bars. Of course, many will probably disagree on the grounds that they deserve that sentence. However, many do not realize that many offenders in jail do not distribute, abuse, or create these drugs. They are simply users living their own way of live.
ReplyDeleteAnticipating the critics’ response to my earlier proposed idea of ending the war on drugs, I will want to clarify that my ideas do not lie on “‘pro-drug[s]’” extremity nor do they favor illegal drug use. I am not asking the government to release every criminal accused of drug related matters. Even I do not want my kids to have access to illegal drugs. What I do propose is providing one LAST chance to those misled into this area. I would also put forth a proposal to legalize the cultivation and possession of SMALL AMOUNTS of marijuana as medicine. Now, some would argue that this would make drugs’ illegal distribution much easier but not if government uses its leash: taxes. Congress can place considerable taxes; do background checks; set committees to regulate as we do with the gun regulation laws. Countries have done this and I believe that we have a fairly efficient Congress to achieve a controlled drug use act for medication purposes.
ReplyDeleteThe war on drugs in the United States needs to come to an end. Although many would say drug abuse should be stopped and the criminals should be thrown behind bars, I believe these people should be treated with care. Many conservatives would insist that I am being way to kind and these drug users deserve their punishments, but criminal justice programs do so little to help these people. I am not “pro-drug”, I am simply wishing for a better system for people who need help.
ReplyDeleteAs I would like to state, the war on drugs has got to be halted. However, I am not "pro-drugs" as my previous statement may have implied. I believe that yes, abusing drugs is a serious problem that needs to have consequences. Coupled with that, I also believe that there is a distinguishable line between abusing and using drugs. When abusing drugs such as Marijana, Heorine, Cocaine, and Meth, an array of negative symtoms can occur. Although, if one is just using these drugs on their own time, not harming anyone, then they deserve the option to be helped and assisted, not taken and thrown in jail. Many people who are "anti-drugs" would instant say that I am not punishing the crime. However personally I don't think that "crime" should be punished.
ReplyDeleteMany will argue that drug use is one of the main problems in today's world. I believe that yes, drug use is a problem, but the fact that they are putting so many people in jail that are so much more innocent compared to so many others in the world is where they aren't dealing with it in the best way possible. Yet some readers may challenge my view by insisting that any drug user or distributer should be put in jail, I have to disagree with them. I am not arguing the fact that I support drugs or that i am "pro-drug", just that the way we are dealing with it in America could be fixed.
ReplyDeleteMany parents would argue that if we decriminalize weed, then we may end up decriminalizing all drugs entirely. They believe that weed is a stepping stone drug and that if we decriminalize it we may move on to decriminalize more potentially life threatening drugs like cocaine and heroin.
ReplyDeleteIt is insane for a government to keep a relatively safe and nonviolent drug under protection of the law. The United States is the largest incarcerator in the world and it is about time we do something about that. All the people sitting in jail for petty marijuana charges could be in the work force generating revenue for this country. Instead, we are building more jails and incarcerating more people than ever. Sweden is in fact closing jails because of not enough people to put in them.
Some say people who do drugs should be thrown in prison. However I disagree with this statement, I am not "pro-drug" , I think that our ways of punishing those who do drugs and abuse drugs should be changed. There are plenty of more serious crimes, and people that get away with them. We should invest in a rehab of sorts, that is very much like our prison systems that allows the punishment and help these people need.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I grant that Drugs may lead to addiction and harmful situations, I still maintain that the costs of criminalizing drugs heavily outweigh the costs of legalizing it. Of course, many will probably disagree on the grounds that drugs lead to other crimes or lapses in judgment. However, the crime is created by the fact that drugs are in such limited supply. The high demand results in a dog-eat-dog scenario; people are willing to kill, lie, and nearly get themselves killed for some kind of profit. To supply individuals with what they want completely takes the risk out of the trade. Yet some readers still may challenge my view insisting that it’s not fair to the people using drugs or their families on the grounds that users may potentially threaten their own life. What people do to themselves is entirely up to them as long as it doesn’t threaten the life of another person. People who are likely to make mistakes will, so why punish small time users as much as others without looking at extenuating circumstances; better yet, why punish them at all?
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that many Americans would argue that drugs cause much more harm than good, making the harsh punishments completely fair. Some might say "drugs lead to violence and crime. All illegal drug users should be punished". A lot of times, this is true. Drugs can lead to violence in which people should be punished for the violent crimes they have committed. However, is the war on drugs about helping addicts not be addicts? Wouldn't that ultimately lead to fewer crimes and less violence? Because in my experience, locking someone up for a while isn't going to care and addiction. Only giving them proper treatment well. Instead of spending millions of taxpayer dollars on imprisoning druggies, maybe we should try and actually saw the root of the problem- addiction.
ReplyDeleteThe war on drug, is it just or unjust, many people would argue without hesitation that most schedule one drugs in every way are negative and cannot be integrated into society. War is defined as a state of armed conflict between different nations or states or different groups within a nation or state, but the argument stands true what is the purpose of this conflict and how do authorities and officials propose an idea to benefit to the betterment of a human society? With the violence and betrayal between people, how can these drugs be good at all? But also the violence and incarceration of the Drug Dealers/ Users themselves how is that going to benefit them as people in anyway , with proper medical attention and rehabilitation this would better them as people and quell there addictions and dangerous lifestyles. But where the government falls short is how they handle this beast this "War on Drugs", the government with all the assets and aids at hand why aren't they trying to better people instead of making them rot in a jail cell or ending up dead in a street? There are many alternatives to the betterment of this human nature that has been created and fueled by drugs.
ReplyDelete