Would the legalization and taxation of drugs be a boon to society?

Topic:
Crime Debates

19 Contributors
in this discussion.

Yes
84% of users

  • I think that the legalization and taxation of drugs would be a boon to society, because many people use drugs and the money paid could benefit our society.

    I think we should legalize and tax drugs, and it would be a boon to our society. Many people currently buy illegal drugs and pay good money for them. If we legalized these and charged taxes, that would be a lot of money added to our society.

    Yes FemaleTyron73

  • Legalizing and taxing drugs could help save a withering economy and promote social justice.

    Our prison system is full to the brim with non-violent drug offenders. By legalizing drugs for personal use, we can free public resources used by prisons, while stimulating our economy with a new source of tax revenue. Adults need to be trusted to make their own decisions. The war on drugs is not only costly, but it is inhumane.

    Yes ExoticCurt

  • Drug legalization and taxation would absolutely have a positive impact on society, because it would result in safer usage.

    If drugs are legalized, it brings a great degree of legitimacy to the industry that results in safer usage. Furthermore, the taxation and subsequent money made on legal drugs are a terrific alternative to the war on drugs that currently rages. A war on an abstract thing is everlasting and pointless.

    Yes LiterateWarren

  • Drugs are already a part of society, so why not regulate and tax them?

    The legalization and taxation of drugs would be a boon to society, even if it would not be a boon for government. Drugs are not going anywhere. Jails and prisons all across the country are filled with drug offenders. Hundreds of police officers are tied up, busting small-time drug offenders, in lieu of busting violent criminals. Legalize drugs, and all this goes away. The only group in society that benefits from this mess is government and big business. Society is being choked out with this nonsense.

    Yes J Lamb 43

  • I support the legalization and taxation of drugs, because it would make money for the government in terms of tax revenue.

    Our economy is very close to failing right now, and one of the ways to help revive it is to increase our tax revenue. While some may argue that legalizing drugs would cause more problems for society, in actuality, it would not, because there are already a number of people illegally using drugs. By legalizing these drugs, we create opportunities to tax their sale and increase our tax revenue.

    Yes BentGeorge61

  • I think that much of the research shows that taxing and legalizing drugs would greatly lower imprisonment and law enforcement costs, while increasing tax revenue.

    I think that there are studies that show even in countries where these drugs are legalized the usage amount is about the same. This means that in countries where it is illegal, money is wasted trying to stop a problem that will not be stopped. Also, the amount of money that could be produced by legalization and taxation is very large and would greatly help the current budget problems.

    Yes ReaganB

  • Yes, society would benefit from legalization of drugs, because of the income it would generate.

    Keeping drugs illegal is not stopping people from using drugs. All it does is turn people into criminals who wouldn't be, if they were legal. Not only would there be revenue from taxation, the people who wouldn't go to prison would save states millions of dollars every year. I also believe that not as many people would get hooked on drugs if they could see first-hand the results of hardcore use, because the user no longer has to hide who they really are.

    Yes TownNoam

  • The legalization and taxation of certain soft drugs would be beneficial to society.

    From examining the history of the protocols in place for the use and possession of marijuana in The Netherlands, it is clear that the legalization of certain soft drugs can be beneficial. With legalization the police are able to closely monitor and contain the amount of and places where drugs are used. Furthermore, by taking these things off the black market and charging sales tax the government is able to take away the major source of funding for criminal gangs, then funnel the money gained from the tax into fighting truly dangerous drugs and criminal activity.

    Yes RaymoCanyons

  • Great way to piss off the drug dealers!

    Legalization, regulation, and taxation would aid the economy to a great extent. Besides, they already prescribe your kids Ritalin = cocaine, and Prozac=dope, and a combination of the two = heroine. So let's take away the profit from the unethical quacks that want to solve everyone's problems with drugs for the kickback and give the power back to the people. Take away gov't spending for the War On Drugs and use it for DARE programs. Educate our kids; abolish the criminals.

    Yes Anonymous

  • The legalization of drugs would be a clear boon to society

    The legalization of soft drugs, not hard drugs, would be an obvious financial boon to society. The money that is currently being lost on uncollected taxes and the money spent on the War on Drugs could be reallocated. Beyond this less violence would occur within the country.

    Yes TheevilClau

  • The legalization and taxation of drugs would be a boon to society for several reasons, one of which is the savings of money currently being spent on the war on drugs.

    The huge amount of money which is currently being spent on the war on drugs could go to more productive pursuits to benefit society. If drugs were legal, the black market would be eliminated and therefore the amount of crime connected to illegal drugs would not exist. Legalizing drugs would also remove a lot of the allure and mystique that draws kids to start in the first place. Regulating legal drugs that could be taxed would be a great economic boon for government and it would be harder for kids to get their hands on the drugs.

    Yes JeffP4ri5

  • The legalization and taxation of drugs would be a boon to society,. It would destroy the illicit drug trade, put drug dealers out of business, and be profitable to cash-strapped states and municipalities.

    When drugs are illegal, as Prohibition amply demonstrated, it creates an opportunity for the underworld to enrich themselves and consolidate power by providing a necessary service. Legalizing drugs and taxing them would provide the dual benefit of putting drug dealers and drug runners out of business, and putting money in the hands of cash-strapped cities and states. Further, even harmful drugs would become less dangerous if sold legally, since their contents would be assured; many illegal drugs are not exactly what they claim to be, but contain even more dangerous substances.

    Yes Br0Freex

  • Legalizing drugs would be a boon, economically and socially.

    By changing the drug laws there would be a domino effect on society. The number of inmates being supported by our prisons would drop drastically, reducing the amount of tax dollars needed to fund the prison system. Then, many who have been incarcerated can then be hired to help run the newly founded supply systems. No one knows the ins and outs of growing weed better than some one who did it in face of federal charges. The tax on the drugs could be used to fund a national health plan, giving many of the people who use access to a better life.

    Yes R0II4Icy

  • Economics of supply and demand. When there is supply demand lowers.

    The extent of what people will do these days in light of drugs is horrendous in stakes. At the least, get rid of the secrecy and the increased demand for the products so prices can go down, and violence is likely to hit a decline due to competition with once illegal channels. Economics will be the answer to the problem.

    Yes Bear

  • I am for legalizing and taxing specific drugs.

    I believe that certain drugs should be legalized, with marijuana specifically in mind. Although it can be considered a slippery slope or a case of two wrongs make one right, I believe there are benefits of legalizing a drug. This would allow the taxation and control over the drug, and grab the control out of the various gangs and other criminal groups.

    Yes Maximus Walton

  • I believe that taxing and legalizing drugs would help in reducing the number of people who are into selling drugs.

    If drugs were legal and taxed, it would discourage some of the criminal element from smuggling drugs into our country. Those who sell drugs to make big money might not be so enthusiastic if they had to pay tax on their income. Also, I believe if drugs were taxed and legalized, there would be more control over where they can be sold and used, just as there is now over sale of alcohol.

    Yes R0d0Ferdy
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No
16% of users

  • I disagree that the legalization and taxation of drugs would be a boon, or benefit to society, since drug use can influence the crime rate.

    The legalization and taxation of drugs would definitely not benefit a society. First of all, there are drugs (such as cocaine) that are illegal for a very good reason. For example, crack/cocaine can make a person very irritable and violent - even violent enough to commit murder. Taxing drugs will not do a lot of good since they are addicting and drug users will purchase them anyway. In general, I strongly believe that drugs should be prescribed by a doctor of physician to be considered legal.

    No echagina

  • Yes, if drugs enter the mainstream world of taxation and business then we will have fewer criminals and less expense taking care of the criminals.

    Because drug use is illegal, prisons are brimming with people with drug convictions. This is very expensive for a society in more ways than one. The US has the highest percentage of its population incarcerated when compared to other countries of the world. This damages families and communities. If drugs were legal and the sale of them in the hands of the government and business then we wouldn't have nearly the number of criminals involved in the drug trade. Taxes gained from sales would also benefit society. I don't think there would be a huge increase in users either.

    No 54IInferno

  • No This idea should be discarded as impossible and undesirable.

    Prohibitionists frequently argue that marijuana legalization would not be a panacea for the United States' drug problems. In addition, problems arising from illicit trafficking in cocaine, heroin, PCP, methamphetamine, and other drugs might still occur, as would problems arising from simple use of marijuana.

    No JKlein
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Would the legalization and taxation of drugs be a boon to society?
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