State the arguments for and against legalizing drugs Drugs should be legalized because the money spent on control could be used on education and economic development. People have always wanted, and...

State the arguments for and against legalizing drugs Drugs should be legalized because the money spent on control could be used on education and economic development. People have always wanted, and will find ways of obtaining, psychoactive drugs. The drug war causes many health problems like HIV and hepatitis C because users are in hiding and thus their access to clean needles is restricted. Children of addicts are at risk of educational failure, joblessness, addiction, and delinquency. People suffering from cancer, AIDS, and other debilitating illnesses are arrested and prosecuted for using medical marijuana. Banning drugs creates networks ol manufacturers and distributors, many of whom use violence as part of their standard operating procedures. If drugs were legalized, price and distribution could be controlled by the government. Those who oppose legalization fear that it will lead to much more widespread use of dangerous drugs, leading to drug smuggling to avoid tax payments. There are also health concerns. The number of drug-dependent babies could begin to match or exceed the number delivered with fetal alcohol syndrome.