Text of the Amendment
The manufacture, transportation, sale, purchase, and consumption of all psychoactive drugs, psychopharmaceuticals, or any other illicit medication formerly prohibited by federal law, is hereby deemed legal within the United States and all territory subject to its jurisdiction.
Reasons Behind the Amendment
Similar to the eighteenth amendment, federal bans on psychoactive drugs - such as marijuana and cocaine - have not thwarted drug use, rather, they have catalyzed organized crime and created a black market for illicit drugs. Drug laws have also siphoned precious tax dollars to federal agencies that insist on engaging in an endless “war on drugs.” Rather than impose stricter drug laws, full-fledged legalization of all drugs will dismantle black markets, free up tax dollars, and lessen drug related crimes. Citizens of the United States should have the right to purchase whichever drugs they fancy, and should have the responsibility to deal with whatever repercussions their drug use may bring about.
I agree that this amendment may solve problems, such as drug related crimes, and will produce profit for the economy if drug distributors become registered as businesses, however, isn't there a certain moral reasoning behind the former banning of these drugs? Isn't there a duty for the government to discourage the abuse of drugs in their country? It seems a bit reckless for government to allow the usage of potentially deathly drugs, knowing that many people aren't educated enough in the affects that the drugs have on their bodies, and say "you should have the responsibility to deal with any repercussions", such as killing yourself or harming others.
ReplyDeletePerhaps this can solve the problem of black markets and crime rates due to the selling of drugs, but wouldn't it introduce other problems - such as an increase in accidents and deaths caused by people under the influence?
As for the recent decriminalization of marijuana in Colorado, no one has over died from an overdose of marijuana. However, many deaths are recorded each year due to an overdose on other types of drugs. What kind of an effect would the decriminalizing of all psychoactive drugs have on our future generations? Now, these drugs are deemed illegal. Sure, it doesn't thwart drug use for those who still choose to do it, but at least it instills a general message that drug abuse is wrong, that some drugs will not only harm an individual, both those around them. After lifting this ban, how would that change the way children perceive drugs? Would it encourage them in any way? How does that affect our country?
The government's job is to protect the negative and property rights of the people; that's it. It's not responsible for promoting or instilling moral values. People should be responsible for themselves, they don't need the government to parent them.
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