4. Alternatives discussed a little further (and how to talk about them in class, with no positives or negatives -- just more open discussion)
- Medical reasons are the biggest reasons for legalizing drugs today, but most scientists do not think this is the way to go because there are legal drugs available that have the same effect. But sometimes hospitals use illegal drugs for relief of pain and other medical reasons. Does this, therefore, warrant its legalization? Hospitals and doctors can use it but normal people cannot and some people feel that is an impingement on their rights.
- What would the Religious community have to say about this issue? Could society possibly rebel against such a law?
- Who would have ultimate responsibility to say who can use it and how much -- the government, doctors, or a lay-medical board?
- How many more studies on the effects of each drug in question is needed?
- History has shown that many substances used today are very harmful to the human body and they are still legal (like smoking and alcohol), so why not legalize some other drugs?
- Does a country like Holland have the right idea?
- Do the positives outweigh the negatives? Or do the negatives outweigh the positives?
- What effect can this have on your children?
- What if, ten years down the road, these drugs are proven to be harmful? They what do we as a society do?
D. Opposing value principles
- Freedom of Choice vs. Obeying the Legal System
Everyone has the right to make a personal decision. It may be a religious decision or a personal value decision. Remember that values are situation specific and each situation is different from the next, and an answer for one situation may not be the right answer for the next situation.
E. Solution
Students will arrive at this themselves, but here are things to consider to help them arrive at a decision.
- What do you feel is most important in this issue?
- What position do you feel is best for the government to take?
- Should we spend billions fighting the drug war -- or make billions legalizing it?
- Reflect on the question: is it dangerous to us?
- Should the question of legalizing it only be dealt with once we understand these drugs more, including their long term effects? Some drugs could be very dangerous and we just do not know enough about them yet.
F. Conclusion
When dealing with an issue like this you have to draw upon your own values to come up with a decision. You have to look at all sides thoroughly and understand the issue before you come to a conclusion. We do know whether each drug has a positive or a negative effect, or how much these effects affect our body -- even the drugs that are used in hospitals and are prescribed to us by doctors! To come to your own conclusions you have to take into account that we know very little on the total long term effects of drugs on the body. Can we afford to wait? Can we afford to not wait? How do you feel about this issue?
Australia's disastrous "war on drugs" since 1970 has produced results remarkably similar to the disastrous USA alcohol prohibition attempt from 1920 - 33. In both cases:
The fact is that drugs are drugs, and almost all drugs are either taxed or banned by governments. Some drugs (alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, aspirin, Valium, Prozac, Ritalin, etc.) are arbitrarily deemed "legal". Other drugs (marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy, heroin, etc.) are arbitrarily deemed "illegal". And still others (such as amphetamines) may be deemed "legal" or "illegal", depending on circumstances.
This makes no sense! We know, for example that "legal" alcohol and nicotine are primary causes in the deaths of thousands of Australians every year. Yet marijuana - WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN SHOWN TO KILL ANYONE - is deemed "illegal". And we know that thousands of Australian boys are prescribed "legal" Ritalin to address "attention deficit disorder." Yet cocaine - chemically almost identical to Ritalin - is deemed "illegal".
When all drugs are legalised - to be controlled legally as alcohol is today - we would hope that governments would also bar users of ANY drugs from ever receiving Medicare benefits. Anyone who uses ANY drug should be prepared to accept the consequences - and NOT expect other taxpayers to pay for his or her medical expenses.
In 1933, after thirteen harrowing years, Americans had the good sense to end their disastrous alcohol "prohibition" attempt. When will Australians have the good sense to do the same?