Drug Legalization in California Essay Example

The effects of drug legalization in California were dramatic. 14% of teens in California were reported to be abusing marijuana, 15.3% of women were reported to be abusing heroin, and 20% of men were reported to be abusing marijuana. The legalization of all recreational medicinal drugs is up to each state to decide. California decriminalized these drugs in 1996 being the first US state to make them accessible to everyone in public. Recreational drugs in California should be delegalized because these drugs increase the crime rate, they're linked to other substance use disorders including nicotine addiction, and their use inhibits physical and mental health. 

Recreational drugs have caused an increase in the crime rate in the United States. When more people use drugs, they lead to bigger problems, according to patient.info.com, "Mainstream acceptance of marijuana will lead to an increase in use and thus an increase in addiction" (3). Simply, a worldwide agreement that using drugs is fine and it goes unpunished, drug trafficking rates will be ameliorated, increasing the crime rate. 11 states have adopted the legalization of recreational drugs, according to vox.com/policy, "Cannabis use is increasing in adults 26 and older" (1-2). Citizens publicly going out and doing drugs alter others' mindsets and have them reconsider trying drugs, when more states legalize drugs, more people use them, thus increasing the number of crimes committed. One of the main results of the legalization of drugs includes a higher crime rate.

Increased use of drugs recreationally is linked to more people developing substance use disorders such as nicotine addiction. There are multiple reasons younger people use drugs recreationally. According to healthyliving.com, "Drugs make one feel happier, relaxed and help them forget about their worries and problems'' (1). These are only a segment of the reasons why teens and young adults feel pressure to continue and they feel like they are unable to stop. Mental health professionals think that more use will occur in the future among younger people, causing an increase in reported drug disorders. According to newportinstitute.com, "21% of 18-24-year-olds who have never used drugs would try when they become legal” (6). This comment alone shows that the addiction rate would drastically increase as a result of drug legalization. This could result in many cases of drug diseases and disorders. The use of drugs recreationally can cause numerous issues, including developing a disorder such as nicotine addiction.

Using drugs recreationally inhibits your physical and mental health. They cause infections, addictions, and overdoses to occur. According to patient.info.com/healthy-living, “Human immunodeficiency virus and certain types of hepatitis can be passed onto others by blood on needles” (2). We knew that the use of drugs recreationally could cause mental health issues, however, now we can understand that there are certain physical and medical health effects present as well. All drugs can have dangerous effects, and many can be unpredictable. “Drugs can cause people to have bizarre behavior and mental problems” (2).  Mental problems can impact one’s health all around when it is physical, internal, or mental, however, this behavior can be visible to other people and alter their point of view. In the end, HIV and Hepatitis are only two of the many viruses that can be contracted by recreational drug use.

The other side of the argument involves that drug legalization and regulation would make marijuana and other drugs safer for users, however, a survey conducted in 2020 shows that 1/5th of young adults would try recreational drugs if they were legal in their state. This leads to an increase in inexperienced use and could cause the process to backfire. People who have never done them before could use too much or use them incorrectly, thus causing them to suffer the consequences.

Recreational drugs should be delegalized in California since they promote crime, are connected to other substance use disorders such as nicotine addiction, and damage physical and mental health. Summarily, the re-legalization in California will result in an increase in use, which will lead to an increase in the crime rate. In addition, increased use can lead to infection and medical diseases, as well as younger people being pressured into use. A survey conducted by Newport Institute showed that Generation Z uses marijuana at double the rate of the national average. There is a major correlation between this survey and the ban on drugs being lifted a few years before Gen Z.