Why are drugs illegal?

Question

It is written in history that the illegalization of drugs is based upon racism and government paranoia. We spend BILLIONS a year on this fake war on drugs so we can support big spending government and put people into jail instead of rehab: why not tax it, set up intoxication laws similar to alcohol (oh wait, they are already there!!!)? You screw up like you can on alcohol, you pay the same price. I can’t believe that everyone doesn’t see the hypocrisy in our drug “laws” i.e: Big Gov BS…

Answer 1

Drugs are bad, m'kay?

Answer 2

As harmful as drugs are to people and society, they are out there being harmful, even though they are illegal. Pretty much nothing would change in this country if drugs were made legal. Just because alcohol is illegal for people under 21 doesn't mean there isn't underage drinking going on. But there is a lot of sneaking around and irresponsibility as a result of the legal ramifications of doing this.
There will always be drugs altering the minds of people from all walks of life. Laws will never change this. Removing these laws is not advocating drug use either. It's just cashing in on it.
Also, the illegal drug trade is a very violent one. You've got smugglers defying borders, home growers and meth labs right next to schools, kids, especially in poor areas, being hassled to buy drugs, and people getting shot all the time in bad drug deals. If the government legalized drugs, set up licensing and permits, and reasonable, practical laws, the drug trade could be made much less dangerous. And, of course, they'd tax the sale of drugs.
Drugs are bad. Like smoking and drinking in excess, and shooting guns wherever you want to. By controlling these things with government regulations, we can reduce the chaotic element introduced by outlawing these things totally. Just look at the excess of crime that sprang up during Prohibition!
Obviously, this country's got a long way to go, but if you look at things from all perspectives, there might be a better solution where you never thought you'd find it.

Answer 3

I would want my kids kept away from drugs like they are kept away from alcohol. As for adults - if drug use causes problems you should be put in rehab not prison. Same with alcohol. Unless it makes you kill or seriously hurt someone like a drunk driving accident, then you should go to prison.

Gotta add this - not all the illegal drugs are horribly addictive; and some legal ones are extremely addictive (tobacco). So I don't know how they decided what should be banned and what shouldn't unless it was some sort of economic decision or based on political clout.

Answer 4

Most drugs are extremely addictive. Government support of such addictive substances would be appalling to say the least.

Society would fall apart. It's kind of hard to concentrate on being productive to your society when you, quite literally, can't live without something that numbs your mind.

It's not like the government is just making up laws for the hell of it.

Answer 5

illegal drugs has killed and destroyed brains! I have worked with people like this, so it is not a question that it happens. I am also aware of the effect on the unborn! Plus those on drugs don't care how they hurt others to get the drugs they want! All of these things listed shows how good it is to keep drugs illegal.

Answer 6

Think about it for a second more....

Do we really want more people, than there already is doing drug legally? Anywhere they want? Whenever they want? I sure don't!

I'm guessing you do not have children...because if you did...you would have a entire different perception on your question and thoughts on this subject.

Answer 7

Because America doesnt make the best drugs (illegal ones). We dope our kids up on ridillin and we are so high on prozac and zanex we dont care but dont you dare smoke a joint, or we will drag you into court and take 1,000 or more dollars out of your purse and make your life a living hell!

Answer 8

Government propaganda, and the tobacoo industry wanted more sales, and the goddamn republicans, just say no, damn republicans, in amsterdam there is revetivly no drug problem there because its illegal and we make mad money in the u.s luandering nd ****

Answer 9

To keep the prices artificially high, thus when the felonious Bush boys fly cocaine in from South America on CIA planes they make more money.

Answer 10

Because people tend to abuse it, then gov't had to bind down laws and regulations to control it's usage. But it seems to only assist but not halt it's miss guided usage.

Answer 11

Our drug laws are ridiculous, and not everybody gets punished, look at rush windbag!