Why Do You Think Cocaine Should Stay Illegal

Then, in the 1980s, a smokable form of cocaine was introduced to Americans. It was sold in “28 states and the District of Columbia”. Crack was very accessible to everyone as it was sold for only $1-3 dollars each. The cheapness of crack was another strong incentive for people to buy crack. By 1994, “about 1.4 million Americans” used cocaine, and the number of those who used too much cocaine was 500,000.

Drug abuse is a major problem throughout the world. Drugs can influence the everyday lives of people, whether they be users, dealers, drug-related crime victims, or the friends and family of a person affected. Violent crime, prostitution, government corruption, and more can all have a link to narcotics. Much of the world, including the United States, try to stop these effects of illicit drugs by focusing on stricter laws and enforcement. Yet this this approach may be counterproductive. Although some people think the “tough on crime” approach is the best way to deal with drug problems, the truth is decriminalizing drugs is the best approach. With decriminalization, the negative effects of current drug policy can be lessened.

Illicit drugs are drugs that have been considered illegal, such as, heroin, cocaine, and marijuana, in some locations (Levinthal, 2016). Legislating drugs began around 1900. In essence, the government let society govern the use and opinions of drugs. Most of society looked down upon the nonmedical use of drugs.

Cocaine and Crack Cocaine Cocaine is an illegal drug in the United States. It is a chemical obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. It is classified as a central nervous system stimulant that causes feelings of euphoria as well as increases body temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate. It can also be used as a local anesthetic. A cocaine user, when high, will feel a sense of intense euphoria increasing libido.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, people who smoke marijuana are 104 times more likely to smoke cocaine, and other addictive drugs, than people who don’t smoke marijuana. This is potentially very dangerous because these other drugs can have adverse reactions that are many times worse than marijuana. Cocaine, like marijuana is a stimulant, but unlike marijuana is many times stronger. Users will become addicted to cocaine much quicker and much more deeply. Legalizing marijuana will multiply the already large problem with illegal drug use.

Currently, drugs are on the list of the high concern for Americans. We consider it one of the major problems facing our country today. We see stories on the news about people being killed on the street every day over drugs. Too many people believe that drugs are only an inner-city problem, but in reality they affect all of us - whether you use or not. Marijuana has carried a lot of negative and unnecessary stigmas over the year, but the time has come to shake that bad reputation. If the United States adopted a policy towards the total decriminalization of marijuana, the country would benefit from many economic advances and overall crime rates would be reduced. In my opinion, the current drug policy of our government is failing to do its job.

The reason people love the way cocaine feels is because of its feeling of euphoria the increase of energy levels and elevated mood of self esteem. In accordance to drugabuse.com short term side effects of using cocaine are, Paranoia, Dizziness, Muscle twitches, Dilated pupils, High body temperature, loss of sexual appetite. In addition the long term effects of cocaine include rectal functions from eating cocaine, could end up getting HIV from using the same needle again or with another person, Heart attacks, Constant nose bleeds, Strokes and even Seizures. Alternative names used among the streets are, Coke, Toot, Base, Powder, Candy, White, Flake, Basa, Rail, Snow, Bump, Yeyo and the list goes on.

I am thankfully not an expert on cocaine or its use, but a cursory Google search tells me that crack cocaine is just powder cocaine mixed with baking soda. However, what's interesting is how these new laws targeted crack cocaine but not powder cocaine. Well, crack cocaine was an inner-city drug, while powder cocaine was something for the Wall Street lifestyle. Basically, white people chose to use powder cocaine, and powder cocaine doesn't result in nearly the same kind of damaging prison sentences as crack does.

Drugs are the dangerous substances that will destroy the consumer both physically and mentally; therefore, it is necessary to determine these substances restrictively. In order to do that, I am strongly assuring that the drugs should be legalized. There are three main reasons why the drugs should be legalized: diminution of crime rates, health guarantee, and extending of drugs regulation. Drugs are one of the crime sources, although not by the drugs, itself, but the condition. Illegal drugs are rare products that could not be found in the normal market, the cost for its rarity is totally expensive.

When understanding the drug problems we face today, we have to look at the history of how drugs became popular and what they do. Some historians would say this country was founded by tobacco, the first big cash crop the colonies produced. It was first used for chewing, pipe smoking and snuff. Cigarettes popularity started after World War II but eventually declined after showing the correlations between smoking and cancer. (A Brief History of Tobacco) Marijuana was also a cash crop starting in Jamestown but instead of using it for smoking it was used for making rope, clothing and sails.

Methamphetamine and cocaine are both in the same category of drugs known as stimulants. Meth is completely man-made and is manufactured using common household and industrial ingredients such as over-the-counter cold/allergy medicines, drain cleaner, battery acid, gun cleaner, gasoline additives, muriatic acid, ammonia, lye, acetone and litter. Cocaine on the other hand is naturally occurring and is harvested from the leaves of the cocoa plant. While they are two entirely different drugs, both meth and cocaine have risks associated with their use, and have very high rates of dependence, abuse, and addiction. However, there are very distinct differences between cocaine and meth, in terms of how these drugs affect the individual both physically and psychologically.

There is much debate on the issue of recreational drug use. Some argue it harms the user, therefore, is wrong. Others maintain that recreational drug use inspired artistic expression in some, religious awakening, and a general feeling of pleasure and positive attitude in others. Timothy Hsiao argues that recreational drug use is immoral because it impairs cognitive abilities and the state based on this fact has an obligation to enact legal restriction to safeguard that people actually exercise their freedom.

His particular approach based on the chronological series of historic events clearly explains the process that transformed cocaine from being a medical commodity to an illicit drug. In “Andean cocaine”, nothing is left to chance, the author is able to clearly explain the causes and the consequences that connect all the events, countries and people in the infamous history of coke. What I found extremely captivating of the book was its relation to several study fields: from medicine to anthropology, or from history to geography, without forgetting to mention branches of politics and sociology, “Andean Cocaine” offers readers from different backgrounds an enriching reading. The book by Gootenberg represents an incredible useful source of knowledge not only for a novice reader who is looking for an introduction to the history of cocaine, but also for a specialist in the field who wants to have a more general overview on how different agents, countries and time periods are all connected to coke’s marketisation process. My opinion on the book in conclusion is genuinely positive.

A country where all drugs are legalized can be the perfect economic and social compromise. Ultimately, it contains the both of best worlds as it would allow for the economy to flourish due to the infusion of new income from tax reforms. Drug liberalization is the next step for the United States for us to become a new country with limited violence less drug abuse and a better prison system. Drug liberalization needs to happen and happen fast for the progression of the people as a civilization.

Also cocaine is known as a stimulant drug and it is a schedule II narcotic. Cocaine is also known to be called C, coke, white dust and snow. Cocaine has 2 main forms that it can be used in. The forms that cocaine can be used in are, crack cocaine and cocaine hydrochloride (powder cocaine). Crack cocaine can be known as rock or crack on the streets as well.