Ending the War on Drugs

The United States seems to be involved in a never-ending war on drugs. Each year, ridiculous amounts of money are being spent in hopes to successfully ban drugs in the United States. Personally, I feel that banning drugs is completely unrealistic and the prohibition should be stopped as soon as possible. In today’s society, the illegal use of drugs is certainly not disappearing anytime soon. I strongly believe that, with the right politicians elected into Congress, it is only a matter of time until drugs become legalized. Although the act may seem somewhat outrageous at first, the United States’ economic situation would definitely benefit as a result.

Being that Dr. Michael Babula—currently running for Congress 2008 to represent Maryland’s fourth District—also supports the idea of legalizing drugs, he develops concrete positions and practical solutions that are presented on his website, www.babula2008.com. The greatest benefit of the legalization of drugs, according to Babula, would be the major reduction in violent crime. From an economic stance, Babula makes it clear that drugs are considered an inelastic product. Therefore, changing the price of drugs will not significantly change the consumption rates. This illustrates that, no matter what the prevailing price is, drug users will consume the same amounts. With lower prices, the extra money that is being saved may allow these addicts to afford types of rehabilitation and attend various treatment facilities. In the end, the drug users would seek out healthcare help for their harmful addictions while incarceration rates for drug related crime would greatly decrease.

In an article from “The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse,” Roberto A. Trevino discusses why economists support the legalization of drugs. Trevino explains, “Since legalization will likely make illegal drugs more affordable, they argue that this should reduce drug-related crime…they argue that drugs are a necessity to many addicts rather than a luxury. Thus, the elasticity of drugs is likely to be small” (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0978/ is_1_28/ai_83661748). Furthermore, drug legalization will drive prices of drugs down and save money to be used for rehabilitation facilities. In an article written by Walter Block from “The American Journal of Economics and Sociology,” similar points are made regarding the vital benefits that drug legalization would bring to the United States. Block’s ideas coincide with Michael Babula’s when he states that we are certainly losing the war on drugs. Block also reinforces the concept that the legalization of drugs would “reduce crime rates, reverse the potency effect, improve the quality of life in the inner cities, prevent the spread of disease, save the taxpayer money, and generally benefit both individuals and the community as a whole” (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0254/ is_3_59/ai_65348069).

Opponents of Babula, Donna Edwards and Albert Wynn, both fail to mention their positions on the controversial topic of legalizing drugs in the United States on their websites. While Dr. Michael Babula contains a section dedicated to the benefits of drug legalization on the economy on his website, Edwards and Wynn completely ignore the concept of economy all together. In order to make significant and much-needed changes to the economy of the United States, Dr. Michael Babula is the best candidate to choose for Maryland’s fourth district for Congress 2008.