CHAPTER 38
The Debate over Legalization
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After studying this chapter, students should be able to:
•
38.2: Review the history of the “war on drugs”
•
38.4: Review the debate over medical marijuana
•
38.5: Understand the status of recreational marijuana
CHAPTER OUTLINE
Statement of the Problem
The “War” on Drugs: An Ongoing National Disaster
The War on Drugs: The Fantasy
The Reality of the War on Drugs
The Drug War as Political Nonsense
The War on Drugs as a Drain on National Resources
Other Consequences of the Prohibition Against Drug Use
Section Summary
The Law and Morality: Where to Draw the Line?
The Debate over “Medical Marijuana”
Cannabidiol (CBD) and Other Compounds in Cannabis
Legalization of Marijuana
CHAPTER OVERVIEW
This chapter focuses the reader on both sides of the debate regarding legalization of
drugs. The purpose of the chapter is to give the reader an initial understanding of the
social issue of drug legalization, as well as the history related to the “war on drugs” and
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Break-Out Discussion # 1:
Is illicit drug use synonymous with crime? Public statements by many politicians would suggest
that it is. In the 1980s, Congress became “tough on crime,” especially in the so-called war on
drugs. Politicians spoke of the war on drugs as if it was synonymous with the problem of
Questions
1. When does a criminal act become synonymous with criminal activity? If a hypothetical male
2. More than 50% of those persons addicted to heroin have a history of being arrested for
criminal activity before their first use of heroin (Jaffe & Strain, 2005). If a person were to rob a
bank, and then use some of the proceeds to buy illicit drugs, could you consider those drugs to
have caused the person to engage in the illegal act?
Break-Out Discussion # 2:
The cost of victory: At the battle of Bunker Hill, approximately half of the English troops involved
in the battle were either killed or wounded, a number that was one-eighth of the total number
of English troops in Boston at the time (Fleming, 1960). Admittedly, the English troops were
eventually able to capture the fort and push the Colonial militia off the Charlestown peninsula
Questions
1. What types of opinions do you hear from politicians concerning the “war on drugs?” Why do
you think that they uphold the policies they do?
2. Should there be a “war” on illicit drugs? If not, why? If so, how should it be conducted?
REFERENCES
Fleming, T. J. (1960). Now We Are Enemies: The Story of Bunker Hill. New York: St. Martin’s
Press.
Jaffe, J. H. & Strain, E. C. (2005). Opioid-related disorders. In B. J. Sadock & V. A.Sadock (Eds.)
Kaplan & Sadock’s Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry (8th ed) . New York: Lippincott,
Williams & Wilkins.
Harrell, A., & Kleiman, M. (2002). Drug testing in criminal justice settings. In C. G. Leukefeld, F.
3d: theories and etiology of addictions
Tims, & D. Farabee (Eds.), Treatment of Drug Offenders. New York: Springer.
Reuter, P. & Pollack, H. (2006). How much can treatment reduce national drug problems?
Addiction, 101 (3), 341–347.
Walton, S. (2002). Out of It: A Cultural History of Intoxication. New York: Harmony Books.
LO/STANDARDS CORRELATION CHART
A-head
LO
Standard—CACREP
Statement of the
Problem
38.1:
Understand
both sides of
the debate
related to
legalization
1a: history and philosophy of the
counseling profession and its specialty
areas
1d: the role and process of the
professional counselor advocating on
behalf of the profession
1e: advocacy processes needed to
address institutional and social barriers
that impede access, equity, and success
for clients
2h: strategies for identifying and
eliminating barriers, prejudices, and
processes of intentional and
unintentional oppression and
discrimination
3d: theories and etiology of addictions
and addictive behaviors
The “War” on
Drugs: An Ongoing
National Disaster
38.2: Review
the history of
the “war on
drugs”
1a: history and philosophy of the
counseling profession and its specialty
areas
3d: theories and etiology of addictions
and addictive behaviors
3f: systemic and environmental factors
that affect human development,
functioning, and behavior
The Reality of the
War on Drugs
38.3:
Consider the
impact of the
“war on
drugs”
1d: the role and process of the
professional counselor advocating on
behalf of the profession
1e: advocacy processes needed to
address institutional and social barriers
that impede access, equity, and success
for clients
2h: strategies for identifying and
eliminating barriers, prejudices, and
processes of intentional and
and addictive behaviors
3f: systemic and environmental factors
that affect human development,
functioning, and behavior
The Debate over
“Medical
Marijuana”
38.4: Review
the debate
over medical
marijuana
1a: history and philosophy of the
counseling profession and its specialty
areas
3d: theories and etiology of addictions
and addictive behaviors
Legalization of
Marijuana
38.5:
Understand
the status of
recreational
marijuana
1a: history and philosophy of the
counseling profession and its specialty
areas
3d: theories and etiology of addictions
and addictive behaviors