Cocaine should be made legal in the United States

ATTACK War on Drugs actually creates the majority of costs our communities pay when considering illegal drugs. We are already in a War on Drugs. Is the Con suggesting that we would be better off if we stop the current war on drug. Is this to say that all drugs should be legal? I am not advocating stopping the war on drugs, but it seems my opponent is. The Con should clarify how this statement benefits his position. Violence itself can be successfully dealt with as a public health problem. How has this worked so far? Is the Con arguing that drug related violence has decreased in the United States and South American countries as a result of dealing with it as a public health issue. Please cite the evidence It is important to consider the fact that most "drug-related" violence is actually drug trade related. Drug related violence is certainly related to the illegal drug trade. I am advocating a legal drug trade between the United States and those South American Countries that produce it. The difference is legal versus illegal. Once its legal, and little or no profit could be made by illegal trade, violence related illegal drug trade would seize. Can the Con name any product that is legally traded wherein there is violence related to an illegal trade of that product. Yes, there are plenty of fake i-pods, computers, watches and other products traded--however there is no violence near the level that we have with the illegal trade of cocaine. The primary reason for this is the enormous profits that can be made. That profit margin will be greatly reduced if not outright eliminated. In an analysis of New York City's homicides in 1988, Paul Goldstein and his colleagues concluded that 74 percent of drug-related homicides were related to the black market drug trade and not drug use. This supports my argument. I agree that there might be a black market for Cocaine, but it would be no different than the black market for i-pods, coach bags or cigarettes. As I have stated, if one can buy Cocaine for pennies on the dollar at a store then there would be a very small and extremely limited black market. All black markets are not created equally. The violence related to the current black market is largely due to the profits that the cocaine brings. If there is little or no profit to be made, the violence would end. For instance, the leading crack-related homicide cause was shown to be territorial disputes between rival dealers, and not crack-induced violence or violence to obtain money for crack purchases. I agree, the violence has little to do with crack purchases but more to do with the illegal trade. I am only arguing that we must continue the war on drugs because most people in this country believe the policy works. I don't want people arguing that drug use will run rampant. As I have noted, there will be no need to protect a turf is the cocaine that one has is of little value. Most drug dealers will move to another criminal activity or might go straight if there was no profit to be made in the drug game. There are black market DVD sales, video games, glasses, coach bags and many other products, but no violence anywhere near that of the cocaine black market. The difference is the profit margins. Take the profit margins and there goes the violence related to the black market. With this being said there will be no stopping to the following •Sales of cocaine and other drugs will continue as they have been and possibly rise. As agreed upon by my opponent my my previous attack. No, I said that illegal use might rise. Yes, sales may remain the same or rise, however the sellers will change. The sellers will be legitimate business owners. As I stated, we will be able to follow the buyers more closely and possibly put them in rehab. The black market for cocaine will mainly arise due to the fact that the buyer will be required to give his or her name and address when purchasing the drug. This would be no different than a priest having someone putting a porno tape on his or her credit card so that its no record he bought it. I cannot imagine that sort of black market leading to violence the likes we have right now. •Violence within itself in gang and criminal warfare will still rise because of this ca loss of innocent and gang Sorry, but I do not understand this argument. I have argued that gang violence would be drastically reduced because the profit margin for cocaine would be reduce. In fact, many young man won't even join the gang if there was no fast money to be made. Please clarify for me if possible. thank you