DRUG TRAFFICKING

Reducing Drug Trafficking in the United States

Reducing Drug Trafficking in the United States

Introduction

Although most of the laws in order to maintain public order, some of them put in place on the basis of social beliefs and interests of those in power, not the general public. Using this approach for the creation of criminal law is dangerous and creates a host of related social problems that are sometimes worse than the problem then the law must be a solution. One of the issues discussed, since its inception is the criminalization of cannabis. Although historically, Canada and America should be a similar plan in regard to criminalization, they broke from each other; Canada is considering the decriminalization of America and pressing harder prison sentences for persons found guilty of possession. Both options have their own set of problems, consequences and solutions.

Discussion

Although the two countries have different approaches to these laws, both countries could better address the needs of the population and offenders through the abolitionism of the current prison system in both countries. Abolitionism centers on the idea that social activity can not and should not be regulated effectively by the criminal law (De Hann, 1997). Given that nearly half of Americans admit they tried marijuana at least once in their lives (Stein, 2002: p.37) and in a recent study, 47% of Canadians support the full legalization of drugs (Beltrame, 2001), it becomes apparent that the existing laws do not effectively regulate the behavior or public opinion. Abolitionism also supports the idea that the reduction of criminal justice programs designed to combat and reduce behavioral problems, drug use, in this case should be put into effect. Instead of treating some of their drug problem, including those jailed for crimes such as possession of marijuana gives them a conviction that will follow them around, and intervene in their lives, the desire to work and travel.

At some point in time, cannabis and cannabis were profitable legal products grown in Canada and the United States. Until the 1900's, it was prescribed by doctors, grown by farmers at the insistence of federal agencies, and touted as a replacement for wood pulp. National Drug Law was passed in 1914, America's first attempt to control recreational use of drugs. In 1925, the first government sponsored report on the use of cannabis, the Panama Canal Zone Report, stated that "There is no evidence that ... [marijuana] has any appreciable effect on the individual using it.''In 1923, Canada adopted Lead and criminalize marijuana with the U.S. following a decade later in 1937. Interestingly, several studies have been conducted to determine the harmful marijuana was actually a man. In 1944, New York La Guardia report and Canada LeDain Commission in early 1970 as is recommended that marijuana be decriminalized but both were ignored by their respective governments (Fowler, 1996) LeDain Commission recommended decriminalization of possession on the basis that the label attached to a person convicted of possession was not justified (Ramcharan, 1989: ...