Question

Why is decriminalization a better option than full-out drug legalization?

Answer 1

@Shadow would you mind helping this user? this seems like a topic up your alley

Answer 2

I really need help specifically on what a well-written academic thesis for this would sound like. What I have so far is "The government should ultimately decriminalize drugs for the benefit of society." I.. don't think this sounds good, and I don't think the cliche thesis where you list your points in your thesis would be appropriate for this essay. It's for Philosophy. I have about 6 points.

Answer 3

Replace 'should ultimately' with 'ought to' as this word denotes that it is the morally right thing to do.

Answer 4

This is because the argument for decriminalization stems from treating the addiction of drugs as a mental illness, thus helping people get better, not punishing them.

Answer 5

Also, even for those who are not addicted, or including those who are, they suffer from other forms of mental illness such as anxiety, depression, and so on.

Answer 6

As for evidence, I would look at Portugal, if you haven't already...as it has completely decriminalized drug usage, and will likely be the primary evidence for your article.

Answer 7

I have included Portugal actually a couple of times in my essay. I've been trying to search for other places... perhaps Mississippi

Answer 8

This looks like a good place to start: https://academic.oup.com/bjc/article/50/6/999/404023#5971604

Answer 9

Oh.

Answer 10

Also, what do you mean by the cliche listing of points. For example:

"The government ought to decriminalize drugs for the social well-being of society, burden on the prison system, and health of drug users."

Answer 11

Social well-being -> prison doesn't work
burden on the prison system -> less people in prison, economics, cost down, etc
Health of drug users -> argument for mental illness help being better than punishment.

I believe this directly answers your question of what a good academic thesis would look like, unless this is the listing you refer to? I think it is fine...

Answer 12

To elaborate on what I mean by prison not working, it means that criminals that go in, stay criminals, and this harms the social fabric by the reform system not working aka criminals still doing their thing.

Answer 13

Pretty sure you could find a study of drug users quickly becoming associated with other forms of crime.

Answer 14

Damn those are good ideas. I already wrote my whole essay, but after going to the writing center I was advised to focus my thesis more directly on decriminalization because I had added the aspect of legalization; the government should, instead of full-out legalization, decriminalize drugs. Changing my thesis to focus more on decriminalization makes sense because all of my points directly argue for it. The reasons I used in my paragraphs are: 1. Decriminalization is a safer step than full out legalization because of the message the government would be sending if it were to legalize all drugs, 2. Less crime, drug addiction, and overdose, 3. Significantly reduce black markets and drug lord incentive, 4. Unnecessary convictions and overcrowding of prisons, 5. Limited Resources (Money) could be better resourced instead of using it for criminalizing drugs, and 6. Criminalization of drugs encourages racism.

Answer 15

So I'm struggling on how to make a direct thesis for that argument....

Answer 16

What about "The government ought to decriminalize drugs for the benefit of society’s welfare, socially, physically, and mentally," ?

Answer 17

Hmm, I would abbreviate it to: for the benefit of society, economically, socially, and their well-being.

The reason why I remove welfare is because it denotes 'society's health" when 'physically' and 'mentally' also refer to this. You can encompass them in 'well-being' aka welfare/health and include economics as prisons place an economic burden on tax payers.

Answer 18

Something like that would be a more streamlined thesis.

Answer 19

Lets break down your points to be clear:

1. Decriminalization is a safer step than full out legalization because of the message the government would be sending if it were to legalize all drugs,
-(Social/Well-being)

2. Less crime, drug addiction, and overdose,
(Well-being)

3. Significantly reduce black markets and drug lord incentive,
(Well-being/Economics)

4. Unnecessary convictions and overcrowding of prisons,
(Economics)

5. Limited Resources (Money) could be better resourced instead of using it for criminalizing drugs
(Economics)

6. Criminalization of drugs encourages racism.
(Social)

Now you can criss-cross these in other ways but you get the idea. These are the overarching concepts in which you should reference in your thesis, and keep it to those general points. You are descriptive enough by saying society will benefit in terms of it's well-being, people, and economics.

Answer 20

Okay, I said " The government ought to decriminalize drugs for the benefit of society’s economic, physical, and mental well-being. I feel like well-being is a thing not separate from economics and social issues... Well-being can include all economics and people and social and everything if you're talking about society or the united states.

Answer 21

Economics falls under a social issue too I think

Answer 22

Yeah I see what you mean

Answer 23

but economic is more specific

Answer 24

mhm

Answer 25

Yeah I guess I'll just stick with that. Thanks! I'm keeping this question open just in case I have another issue with something else

Answer 26

For sure, no problem. Just tag me if you need any further help.

Answer 27

Thanks

Answer 28

Okay i'm copying and pasting so this will be kinda long. Whoever can, can you read this paragraph and my conclusion? The last sentence of the first paragraph, starting with "Especially" sounds unfitting and like I need some sort of a transition paragraph or sentence(s) or something, but I really am having trouble figuring out what to write!

Answer 29

Using drug possession and use to justify the targeting of minorities doesn’t stop at African Americans. Discrimination has allowed the unconventional commonality of using deportation as a means to provide apparent “justice” for the war and the United States. Allied programs created to repel illegal immigrants has gained more momentum than ever, with Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) having their budget increased in just ten years from $3.3 billion dollars to $5.9 billion from 2003 to 2013. Additionally, ICE agents have roughly tripled from 2,710 to 6,338 with goals towards “Enforcement and Removal Operations,” (“Growth”). Those who are in the united states who aren’t considered citizens, not excluding those who may have and have lived in permanent US residences can often immediately get detained and deported without real hope for return for possessing “any amount of any drug (except first-time possession of less than 30 grams of marijuana),” (“Time”). Especially with our current executive administration, biased deportation is painting an even bleaker fate for many immigrant families.
Now the decision must be made of the next steps forward to be taken by our country. One must imagine the dim and oppressive future that we as a country are creating for ourselves by continuing unfair rates of incarceration and unhealthy obsessive use of our dwindling resources. One must also consider what terrible message we are sending by unfairly convicting and deporting mainly minorities, especially at this point in history. These actions are stunting positive growth and indeed regressing back to ancient views of superiority. The president’s slogan to “make America great again” dangerously contributes to this undoing of years of progress that strong leaders before have risked humiliation as well as sacrificed their lives to create. The very least that the government should do is recognize what’s best for this country and others surrounding and decriminalize drugs. This motion will make it so that drugs aren’t suddenly connoted as harmless, however the significantly reduced consequences will allow redirected spending from criminalization to education, prevention, and treatment for those who need it.

Answer 30

@Shadow

Answer 31

Capitalize United States

Answer 32

Now the decision must be made of the next steps
of -> for

Answer 33

What should i use for a transition sentence between "marijuana" and "especially," though? I feel like the sentence about our executive admin sounds like its just thrown in there without any context

Answer 34

Yes, that is a bit odd..

Answer 35

I mean that point is a bit weird to make in the first place. If they all illegal immigrants then they'd get deported anyway. Why is marijuana a relevant factor in their deportation? Sure it's an additional crime but you seem to say that the drug acted as a catalyst for the deportation.

Answer 36

Also, that especially sentence makes a claim about the current administration that you don't seem to substantiate. It may not be worth having.

Answer 37

Like it would be much more relevant if that ICE statistic went into 2017 because it would have influence from Trump's policies.

Answer 38

@notcolesprouse Do you see my point?

Answer 39

Yeah, I was trying to say that marijuana is used as an excuse to target illegal immigrants (mainly Mexicans) for further implementation of deportation. Trump's passionate feelings againt Mexicans increases motive to target them and deport them.

Answer 40

@Shadow

Answer 41

I get what you're saying though, maybe I should just cut that part about Trump out. Or I could say that especially with the passion our current administration has against Mexicans it paints a bleaker fate. Something like that.