¶ … Drugs on the Economy
History of drugs in the United States
How drugs affect the United States Economy both positively and negatively
How decriminalization of drugs like marijuana stand to lessen the burden on tax-payers
Wonder drugs like morphine, heroine, and cocaine to mention but a few pose a lot of problems to the entire American society. Americans have had to grapple with the deleterious effects of drug abuse and addiction. Restrictions were imposed at the beginning of the 20th Century through domestic and overseas law enforcement to contain the drugs epidemic. Such enforcements were initiated to limit opium and cocoa crops (Drug Enforcement Administration, 2012). This term paper seeks to give a brief history of drugs in the United States of America and subsequently outline how drug use affects the American economy both positively and negatively. The paper also endeavors to list how decriminalization of drugs like marijuana stands to lessen the tax burden on taxpayers.
History of drugs in the United States
Nonmedical use of drugs in the United States dates back to the 1900. During these times there were many addicts than there are presently. The adult population was greatly affected. The use of morphine and its derivatives in medical operations during these times worsened the situation. Morphine was used as a painkiller after surgical operations. Its use during the civil war was extensive and this became a major topic of discussion in the media. Apart from addiction prompted by painkillers given after a surgical operation, morphine addiction could also be attributed to patent drugs that were sold over the counter those days. These drugs had high morphine content (Whitebread, 1995). Contrasted to present circumstances a larger chunk of adult population were victims of drug addiction in the 1900s.
To check against the spiraling drug addiction and abuse situation at the onset of 1900, the government in 1906 instituted the Pure Food and Drug Act. This law created FDA in Washington that ensured that food and drugs meant for human consumption were approved. This ensured patent medicine was not approved for human consumption after they were tested. The Act articulated that certain drugs could only be sold on prescription. Drugs that were potentially habit forming had to be labeled 'habit forming'. The Act put proprietors of patent medicines out of business. This reduced chances of accidental addiction. This Act potentially reduced levels of addiction among the population despite the fact that it was not a criminal law (Whitebread, 1995).
The Harrison Act was the first criminal law to criminalize non-medical use of drugs. The Harrison Act was instituted and came into force in 1914. The Act specifically targeted Opium, morphine and its derivatives, and cocaine. The Act was intended to regulate the medical use of morphine and its derivatives, opium, and cocaine. It also intended to criminalize the non-medical use of these drugs. Meanwhile it was originally called Harrison Tax Act. Doctors had to pay a dollar annually to be allowed to prescribe these drugs to their patients. They had to strictly adhere to the regulations in the statute. Second tax totaling a thousand dollars was imposed on single non-medical exchange of morphine, opium, and cocaine (Whitebread, 1995). This second tax was a criminal prohibition meant to discourage consumption of these drugs. If someone was found illegally possessing these drugs he was charged with tax evasion.
Between 1915 and 1937, approximately 27 states passed legislations that criminalized the use of marijuana. These legislations were put in place especially in the Rocky Mountains and south western states to deter migrant Mexicans from bringing marijuana to these states. The laws were meant to be hostile to the migrant Mexicans who used marijuana. States in the North East like Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New York…, instituted marijuana laws because of fear of substitution (Whitebread, 1995). They wanted to prohibit marijuana use before marijuana was introduced in these states. The fear was that heroine and narcotics addicts who feared the consequences of Harrison Act would resort to marijuana use. Utah State was the pioneer in terms of enacting a criminal law against marijuana use. The legislation was not prompted by fear of migrant Mexicans who could probably introduce marijuana as seen in other 26 states. The legislation was occasioned by the state's history of Mormonism (Whitebread, 1995).
14). Soon, Congress passed the Marijuana Tax Act, which was signed into law in 1937. Like the Harrison Act, the Marijuana Tax Act placed marijuana into the same category as the cocaine and opium drugs. It was now illegal to import marijuana into the United States (McWilliams, 1991). However, this law was ineffective in curbing marijuana use (Brecher, 1986, p. 14). By the early 1940s narcotic addiction had significantly reduced
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And they can often escape into substance abuse and addiction" (Study reveals rise in drug, alcohol abuse during economic downturn). One of the most important ways in which an increasing rate of drug and alcohol abuse and addiction affects the economy is the spiraling cost of healthcare and rehabilitation. The increase in addictions also creates a gap between the need for treatment and rehabilitation and available resources. This in turn
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