Gore Vidal, Drugs – ResponseEssay Preview: Gore Vidal, Drugs – ResponseReport this essayGore Vidal: Drugs – ResponseGore Vidal argues that we as a nation should legalize drugs in order to prevent the Bureau of Narcotics and the Mafiosi from making money inversely causing them to “wither away.” While Vidal makes many strong arguments, I disagree. All people are individuals. That is, they all have their differences; be it biologically, emotionally, and/or mentally.
People can react to drugs very differently. Vidal uses marijuana as a one of his more frequent examples. Although it has been proven to not be biologically addicting, it can, for the right person, be mentally addicting. I, for instance, know of many people who fall under the mentally addicted column and many that dont. John, a good friend, is someone who is mentally addicted to marijuana. He is constantly in need and smokes marijuana as frequently as a fourth year cigarette smoker. This has affected John in almost all aspects of his life. He has turned into a lazy and overweight man who sits on his couch watching re-runs all day. John is a college graduate who had a lot of goals, but when asked recently, he couldnt remember what they were.
I can understand that Vidal argues for marijuana to be legalized. It is not nearly as dangerous as others. However, Vidal argues for all drugs to be legalized. This is absurd! How can we, as a nation, allow drugs that separate families, kill its abusers, and cause users to kill? Not only will the number of addicts increase, but drug related crimes will also increase. How can legalizing a drug as physically addicting as heroin have a good effect? What will happen to a heroin addict once he/she is spent and in need of a “fix?” They will be blinded by their overwhelming physical addiction and kill if they need to for that fix. Thus, legalizing drugs as addicting as cocaine, heroin, opium, and so on is not a good idea today nor will
I agree. However, Vidal says that a ‘tough’ vote to legalize all drugs would be ‘very difficult”. The idea that more votes on legalizing and/or regulating medical marijuana makes sense, after all, if marijuana is legal and available and you are willing to let that take care of a majority of society’s needs. But with our current tax systems that do nothing to fix addiction, marijuana prohibition is a total waste of money, and we need to make the best of any opportunity that a change could offer.
I agree. However, Vidal says that a ‘tough’ vote to legalize all drugs would be ‘very difficult’. The idea that more votes on legalizing and/or regulating medical marijuana makes sense, after all, if marijuana is legal and available and you are willing to let that take care of a majority of society’s needs. But with our current tax systems that do nothing to fix addiction, marijuana prohibition is a total waste of money, and we need to make the best of any opportunity that a change could offer.
Now, if that sounds familiar, you’ve probably heard it before, but I don’t just mean that a “tough” vote may have a negative effect on public coffers, and a “hard” vote could lead to more crime. But that may not seem like such a big deal, considering the vast state and federal involvement of the tobacco sector, with taxes being overwhelmingly collected with such high and pervasive government influence (a fact we all know). Still, there is also the idea that legalization could create havoc with the nation’s economy as a whole (like the recession). In other words, the fact that states are making an effort to regulate marijuana doesn’t mean that legalization is bad, but that it’s also not necessarily the best thing to do to encourage and ensure a safe and legal marijuana supply. It is a very important lesson that goes to how we as a nation would care for our communities, both directly and indirectly. The goal is to create a vibrant, prosperous society of people who can thrive in the marijuana economy.
Now, if that sounds familiar, you’ve probably heard it before, but I don’t just mean that a “tough” vote may have a negative effect on public coffers, and a “hard” vote could lead to more crime. But that may not seem like such a big deal, considering the vast state and federal involvement of the tobacco sector, with taxes being overwhelmingly collected with such high and pervasive government influence (a fact we all know). Still, there is also the idea that legalization could create havoc with the nation’s economy as a whole (like the recession).
Now, if that sounds familiar, you’ve probably heard it before, but I don’t just mean that a “tough” vote may have