Respond To These 3 Classmates: What You Liked And Agree ✓ Solved

Respond To These 3 Classmates Saying What You Liked And Agreed With W

The assignment asks students to respond to three classmates by expressing what they liked and agreed with in their posts. The responses should acknowledge their perspectives on drug legalization, decriminalization, and related societal impacts, supporting or expanding on their points with thoughtful analysis and credible references.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

In engaging with the diverse perspectives offered by my classmates regarding drug policy, I find myself largely agreeing with their cautious optimism towards decriminalization, particularly highlighted through the Portuguese model. Both writers emphasize the complexity of implementing such policies in the United States and underscore the importance of considering societal, legal, and health implications.

One classmate passionately argues that legalization with taxation might be a better approach than prohibition, citing Portugal's experience since 2001. I agree that Portugal's policy change serves as a pivotal case study, demonstrating that decriminalization can reduce crime and improve public health outcomes. The evidence from Portugal suggests that shifting focus from punishment to treatment reduces drug-related deaths and criminal behavior, which supports the idea that a regulated approach might benefit the U.S. (Griffiths et al., 2017).

Furthermore, I concur with their concern that legalizing all drugs without proper regulation can potentially lead to increased drug abuse and societal harm. The point about the risk of criminal enterprises shifting to other illegal activities, such as human trafficking, highlights the need for comprehensive policy design. The suggestion to test decriminalization incrementally in specific U.S. states aligns with a cautious, evidence-based approach to policymaking, emphasizing the importance of careful monitoring and evaluation.

My second classmate emphasizes the importance of differentiating between various drugs, advocating for the removal of cannabis from the high-risk Schedule 1 classification. This viewpoint resonates well with current research indicating that cannabis possesses medicinal benefits and poses lower risks compared to substances like heroin or methamphetamine (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2021). The recognition that the "war on drugs" has disproportionately contributed to mass incarceration further supports the push for decriminalization or legalization of lower-risk drugs, which could alleviate burdens on the criminal justice system (Miller & Hays, 2019).

I also appreciate their insight into the societal normalization of drug use, which complicates enforcement efforts. It is crucial to shift focus now toward harm reduction strategies and education, aligning with public health frameworks endorsed by health authorities worldwide (Global Commission on Drug Policy, 2019). The call for law enforcement to adopt approaches reminiscent of the Escobar era—focused on dismantling trafficking networks—demonstrates a strategic understanding that prohibition alone is insufficient without targeted enforcement against illicit organizations.

Finally, my third classmate underscores the economic and social costs of the current "war on drugs," citing its impact on the prison system and public health. Their advocacy for decriminalization, combined with regulatory parameters like usage limits and designated consumption areas, demonstrates a balanced, pragmatic stance. The appreciation for Portugal’s success in reducing drug-related harm aligns with empirical studies showing improvements post-decriminalization (European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, 2020).

In conclusion, I agree with my classmates that a nuanced approach to drug policy, inspired by evidence from Portugal and other progressive models, holds promise for the U.S. When carefully implemented with appropriate safeguards, decriminalization could mitigate some of the societal harms caused by the war on drugs while focusing on harm reduction and treatment. It is imperative that such policies be backed by research, community engagement, and robust regulation to ensure they promote safety and health for all citizens.

References

• European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction. (2020). Portugal’s drug decriminalization model: An overview. EMCDDA Reports.
• Griffiths, P., et al. (2017). Impact of Portugal’s drug policy reforms: A review. International Journal of Drug Policy, 47, 116-124.
• Global Commission on Drug Policy. (2019). The case for drug policy reform. New York: Global Commission.
• Miller, J., & Hays, R. (2019). Rethinking drug laws: Decriminalization and criminal justice reform. Policy Journal, 12(3), 45-58.
• National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2021). Is marijuana safe and effective? NIDA.