According to Douglas Husak and Peter de Marneffe, in The Legalization of Drugs, page 41- 64, there are four rationales to criminalize drugs , especially use in recreational purposes; and he talked about two of them during the pages. The first rationale is health problem. In his opinion, we should begin evaluate this possible rationales with two points. The first point is that “we should concede that drugs are often bad for the health of those who use them” (Husak and Marneffe, 2005, page 42). He stated that use drug recreational purpose would bring the users both physical and psychological risks. Another point is that “this objective provides an exceptionally strange rationale for drug prohibition” (Husak and Marneffe, 2005, page 42). The objective means the function of the government protecting our physical and mental health. After the two points, in this rationale still have something beyond them which is how criminalization could possibly succeed in improving health. There are also two points, which are “punishment might deter current drug users from persisting in their unhealthy behavior” and “the threat of punishment might deter those who do not use drugs from beginning” (Husak and Marneffe, 2005, page 43). The last thing he mentioned is that the health problems which caused by drugs “not only including death, but also various diseases and illness that lowered the quality of life” (Husak and Marneffe, 2005, page 49). Therefore, we should also pay attention to some mild drugs like marijuana, alcohol and cigarette.
The second rationale is children. He stated that the drug war is fighting for youth. He believed that “the youths are not well protected from illicit drugs at present” (Husak and Marneffe, 2005, page 53); and he think this is the worst of the four reasons to criminalize drugs. Firstly, he talked about the connection between the punishment of adults and the protection of juveniles. He states that “whenever we allow adults to do something and prohibit for adolescents, we can anticipate what might be called leakage”(Husak and Marneffe, 2005, page53). Moreover, he believes that the best way to avoid this leakage is to punish adults as well as children for using illicit drugs. Not only the parents, but also everyone should help prevent teenagers away from the illicit drugs. Then he argued the four reasons that reject this rationale for criminalization. In conclusion, he stated that “this rational of criminalization treats adults as children”(Husak and Marneffe, 2005, page64)
2 comments:
Hi Shawn! You discussed criminalization of drugs. There were 2 reasons, one is health problems, another reason is because of children. At first, If using drugs can be legalized, there would be some health problems for people. In my opinion, if people use too much drug, and they are addicted, they might have not only physical but also psychological problems. Every government has a right to protect people from possibilities of abusing drugs. Also, children can use drugs easily if it is legal. This is more dangerous and it will cause more serious problems on societies. Overall, we have to more pay attention about mild drugs such as marijuana or cigarettes. I appreciate that you explain very well and share your information ! thank you : )
Hi, Shawn, How are you?? you topic really confused me and make me think a lot, because you told us that the people who are taking drugs shouldn't be punished, because they have their freedom and they didn't hurt anyone. therefore, there is no point of punishing them. however, this time u talked about health problems and children. After you told us, i felt drugs should be illegal, because it's really dire for people's health, because if you take a lot of drugs, it will lead you to the death and you also don't have money to buy other things, instead, you will spend all your money in buying those drugs. The government decided that drugs should be illegal, because the government concerned about the children and teenagers, they need to find the right way to protect them. if all the people take drugs, include all the children, then our world will be destroyed and eradicated by ourselves.
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