Resolved: The drugs mentioned herein should either become, or remain, legal.

[ DEBATE PARAMETERS ] 1. While it is true that MDMA is the main component of Ecstasy, I am arguing in favor of that very component - MDMA. As noted by my opponent, there are various forms of Ecstasy which often contain a handful of other drugs. In legalizing "Ecstasy," there is no way to decipher for which drugs I advocate the legalization of. Therefore MDMA is the only consistent ingredient in Ecstasy pills, and the only one eligible for discussion in this debate. This is similar to how we are discussing tobacco in this debate instead of cigarettes. Tobacco is the main drug - but not the only drug - in contained in cigarettes. 2. I agree entirely with my opponent that the cost benefit analysis should take into consideration the cost of life, the cost of property and the cost of liberty. Now that we've cleared up any miscommunication regarding that standard, we can proceed with the arguments. [ ARGUMENTS ] 1. Dangers 2. Government vs. Liberty 3. Benefits: Medical 4. Benefits: Personal 5. Benefits: Legal 6. Benefits: Cost 1. Like almost everything in life, ingesting any type of drug has both its pros and cons - benefits and dangers. While it is true that smoking tobacco carries with it an increased risk of cancer, I fail to see how that should have ANY legal bearing whatsoever. Today the United States has many second-hand smoke laws regarding tobacco ingestion; in other words, it is only legal to smoke tobacco in designated areas or on your own property away from where it can be considered harmful to others. The same restrictions could very well be imposed upon marijuana and MDMA if they were to become legal. While Con is correct in asserting that MDMA affects the blood flow of the brain and harms the brain negatively, this can be said about a plethora of other legal things including: alcohol consumption; environmental pollutants; sun bathing; eating fatty foods; stress; lack of sleep; etc. In other words, ALL of these things are harmful and yet are perfectly legal. The point here is that the government cannot make everything that of which can be potentially harmful illegal. There is a certain element of responsibility in all of our personal choices. For instance, we know sun tanning greatly damages our skin AND causes cancer; however, people still choose to engage in this behavior. The same logic can be applied to the drugs in question. The government can issue general warnings and studies about the potential dangers of these drugs, and people can choose whether or not that would hinder their consumption. 3. As I'm sure you're aware, these drugs are not only disadvantageous but have many benefits as well. Let's start with the medical benefits of marijuana. First, they are known to assist with pain from various ailments including arthritis, HIV, cancer, MS, spinal cord injuries, etc. In a 2007 study on neuropathic pain, 50 patients smoked marijuana. The results, published in the journal Neurology, showed a 34% reduction in ratings of pain. Second, marijuana has also been hypothesized to help with nausea induced by chemotherapy and antiretroviral therapy, and with severe loss of appetite due to viral infection. A 2008 review published in the European Journal of Cancer Care analyzed 30 clinical studies using cannabinoid drugs synthesized in the lab, and concluded that they were better than standard antinausea drugs in alleviating the nausea and vomiting that accompanies chemotherapy [1]. In other words, it's clear that marijuana has a plethora of medical uses for which the medical community nor my opponent can deny. In contrast with the negatives, the positives of this drug FAR out-do the potential harms. So what about MDMA? Dr. Holland, a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at New York University School of Medicine, has this to say about the drug: Being a popular illicit drug does not negate its potential medical benefits. Twenty years ago, before Ecstasy was an illegal street drug, it was a medicine used by psychiatrists to create breakthroughs in therapy. It was also used in very small doses to treat depression (since MDMA releases serotonin in your brain; the chemical that makes you happy). Andrew Weil, M.D., says: MDMA is a unique compound with great potential for positive use [2]. I won't waste any more characters noting what many reputable doctors have said, though the bottom line remains clear: There are an abundance of positive medical uses for these drugs, and RELIABLE INFORMATION about their uses can prove to be extremely beneficial. Indeed there are a lot of MYTHS about these drugs that lead to an unfair social stigma, such as the fact that Marijuana is a so-called "gateway drug" that leads users to try other drugs, and most frustratingly of all, the retarded notion that Ecstasy puts "holes in your brain" ... What a crock! This is a flat out lie debunked by any credible doctor in the field of medicine, yet it remains the ignorant assumption of people everywhere. Also, Con's assertion about first time brain damage are great exaggerations! More about this when I have the space...! Anyway, tobacco has medical benefits as well. "A byproduct of cigarette smoke is carbon- dioxide, which in high doses is lethal. However, scientists have discovered that in low dosages, carbon-dioxide in a person's bloodstream prevents blood from "clotting". Blood clots in the bloodstream are the leading cause of heart attacks and strokes" [3]. So again, there are pros and cons to almost everything. Driving in an automobile has risks, yet we choose to engage in that behavior. And just as the government poses restrictions on this activity, so too can they impose restrictions or other legal burdens regarding the distribution of legal drugs. 4. Perhaps just as importantly as medical benefits are personal ones. Since the inception of this country, people have been smoking tobacco. In fact, innumerable farmers make their living from farming this crop. Smoking cigarettes as well as marijuana is something that people do socially for fun, and again the implications to these activities are limited to the individual. Similarly, use of MDMA can be considered highly amusing by many users who wish to take some and then go clubbing, to a concert or to a party where they will enjoy the music, lightning and social activity ten-fold. Why should the government have the right to deny these people this option?! It is their burden to act responsibly under the influence of these drugs, and in choosing this behavior, they are choosing to accept the risks. 5. There are a great deal of legal and financial benefits in choosing to legalize these drugs. First, it eliminates the need for such a huge DEA which will save the tax payers money. Second, no DEA and allowing people to make their own responsible choices means an increase in democracy and liberty. Third, there is a HUGE amount of government corruption regarding the drug industry. We should eliminate bureaucratic trouble making systems as much as possible. Legalization would mean a lower price; thus, related crimes (like theft and gangs) would be reduced. Police and court resources would be freed up for more serious crimes. Drug dealers (including some terrorists) would lose most or all of their business. The FDA and/or others could regulate the quality and safety of drugs. Finally, drug busts often trap young people in a flawed system that turns them into lifelong criminals which is not good for the individual OR the state [4]. 6. In addition to the benefits mentioned above, legalization could mean a source of additional tax revenues. Not to mention lower taxes for the public in general. Sources: [1] http://www.latimes.com... [2] http://www.drugpolicy.org... [3] http://www.oohoi.com... [4] http://www.balancedpolitics.org...