Despite all efforts officially, recreational drugs still stand the test of time all around the world, including the UK surely. “It is estimated that in 2012, some 243 million people corresponding to some 5.2 per cent of the world population aged 15-64 had used an illicit drug — mainly a substance belonging to the cannabis, opioid, cocaine or amphetamine-type stimulant (ATS) group — at least once in the previous year” (UNODC World Drug Report, 2014). This hopeless war shows that is the time of needing to address legalisation of recreational drugs in the UK. This essay will explore the benefits of liberating people about using drugs for leisure in a broad sense.
In this day an age, illegal leisure is considered as a phenomenon, which is supported by a vast black market that is in the grip of big criminal enterprises. These organisations hold the cultivation and supply the products to “market” and create a vacuum to get non-taxable income. Not only the UK government is not able to levy tax on this sector, but also it allocates its precious funds in order to block drug trafficking pointlessly. “The total proactive annual government expenditure on drug policy in the United Kingdom is around £1.1 billion annually” (Davies, 2011). In addition to that, Eaton G. (2007) states that the majority of this expenditure is on treatment, with only around £300 million spent on enforcement. By contrast, it is estimated that the total reactive government expenditure on drug-related offending across the criminal justice system is more than ten times this figure, at £3.355 billion. In light of these information, legalisation of recreational drugs would provide a positive impact on economy due to official expenses.
Moreover, this war environment triggers off racism unhappily. “Black people in England and Wales are 6.1 times more likely to be arrested and 11.4 times more likely to be jailed for drug offences than white people, black people were also 9.2 times more likely to be stopped and searched for drug offences.” (Stevens, 2011) Still hearing about race discrimination in the United Kingdom makes sorrowful, even with a drug issue makes more. This country always take a pride in equality, in that case the government should not allow racism to happen that way and take into account this issue while discussing the legalisation of drugs.
Having said that though, legalising might create new addicts. Kevin Sabet (2014), a leading US academic and opponent of drug liberalisation, told The Guardian last year: "Legal regulation has been a disaster for drugs like alcohol and tobacco. Both of those drugs are now sold by highly commercialised industries who thrive off addiction for profit.” It may sound advisable. However, “the Dutch are among the lowest users of marijuana or cannabis in Europe despite the Netherlands' well-known tolerance of the drug” (Stevenson, 2009). This indicates that if the legalisation occurs, the factors like peer pressure, social taboo etc. would vanish. Particularly adolescents would not use drugs on purpose of rebellion no more, because drugs would not be a symbol of flaunting to their social circle.
In this essay, necessity of recreational drugs decriminalisation in the UK has been explained for justifiable reasons. Even though some counter theories can not be ignored, it would seem clear that essentiality of drug legalisation still stand as an unavoidable fact.
Online news
United Nations Office On Drugs And Crime (2014) World Drug Report. Available at:
Sabet, K. 2015 . Available from: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/25/former-uk-ambassador-afghanistan-legalisation-drugs-william-patey-poppy-crops%22+/t+%22_blank?redirection=combiner [Accessed 25 Jun 2015].
Stevenson, R., 2015. Dutch among lowest cannabis users in Europe-report. Reuters [online]. Available from: http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/11/05/idUSL5730185 [Accessed 25 Jun 2015]. The full report by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction is available at r.reuters.com/vef87f
Journal Articles
Academic Journals
Davies, C. et al., ‘United Kingdom drug situation: annual report to the EMCDDA 2011’ (UK Focal Point Drug Situation Report 2011 Edition). (Note: figure provided is £1.07 billion for 2010/11.) http://www.nwph.net/ukfocalpoint/writedir/ a5e8focual%20Final%20report%202011.pdf
Eaton, G. et al., ‘United Kingdom drug situation: annual report to the EMCDDA 2007’ (United Kingdom Focal Point Report 2007). http://www.nwph.net/ukfocalpoint/writedir/527a2007%20FP%20Annual%20Report.pdf
Text Books
STEVENS, A., 2011. Drugs, Crime and Public Health: The Political Economy of Drug Policy. United Kingdom: Routledge Cavendish.
Commentaires