SOCIAL: PROPOSED POLICY CHANGES/ LEGALIZATION OF STREET DRUGS

SUBJECT:  LEGALIZATION OF STREET DRUGS

PURPOSE:  This briefing note is a recommendation the legalization of street drugs.
ISSUE:  Too much regulations on street drugs is hampering individual autonomy.   

Background:


There was a time in Canada where these illicit drugs were legal.  Drugs such as heroin and cocaine were once used as analgesics in the medical field.  It becomes increasingly difficult to understand why these narcotics became illegal.  What is evident however, is that the government sought to make these drugs illegal so they can exert social control over a population that was rebellious.  During the days of Woodstock, boomers were experimenting with these drugs and in events such as this, they caused massive uproar against the establishment.  The government saw that these drugs were causing incivility which then they responded by making these drugs illegal.


Today we have a massive problem with the lacing of drugs with fentanyl.  Fentanyl makes these street drugs more potent.  Much of this fentanyl is sourced in China.  It crosses the American and the Canadian borders which then our street drugs become tainted.  Fentanyl is a cheap way to be able to increase the potency of illicit drugs however, it causes the risk of death to increase.  The black market has destroyed so many lives resulting from fentanyl lacing.  Had we a channel to legalize these drugs, we wouldn’t be seeing fentanyl laced drugs in the black market.  The illegalization of these street drugs has caused unnecessary arrests and convictions.  These have caused our judicial system to be bloated with frivolous we cases which can be easily rectified had they not gone bureaucratic.  Our legal system could handle more serious cases.  Although, according to the Criminal Code, possession is a crime, it should be decriminalized as these people are legal consenting adults capable of making legal decisions for themselves.  What however should remain a crime is the trafficking of these illicit drugs, as using the current black market to vend such commodity is costing lives.  The government needs to find a way to eliminate the black market and promote the legalization of the sale of illicit drugs so that death from these drugs can be controlled.  


Considerations:


It is estimated that the black market generates a global revenue of approximately $426 Bn to $652 Bn according to Global Financial Integrity.  GFI is a US based non-profit organization which focusses on illicit financial flows using data from various sources including NGO’s, governments and law enforcement.  According to their report the market for cocaine is valued at $94 Bn to $143 Bn and cannabis at $183 Bn to $287 Bn.  Opiates however are estimated to be worth $75 Bn to $90 Bn.  Drug cartels use violence to compel governments to use resources on law enforcement to address domestic instability.  The conflict between drug groups and the government causes poverty, weakens the state and empowers drug groups.   


Fentanyl is a big issue when in relation to the matters of street drugs.  It has caused numerous deaths.  Drug traffickers seek to increase the potency of their drugs which they sell in the black market.  Overdoses have been soaring as of late.  The number of Americans dying from fentanyl overdoes in 2011 and 2012 was 1600 comparatively in 2016, that rose to 18000.  Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that’s hundreds of times more potent than heroin or cocaine.  Some drug users dont know that they are purchasing it because it is mixed with other opioids to increase potency.  These drugs are very addictive and the medical community needs to find a way to control these deaths.  The main stakeholders for this matter are the citizen, vendors, traffickers and the government.


Options:  


Option 1:  Legalize and regulate the black market for street drugs.


This option is the least feasible however, the recent legalization of cannabis serves as a gateway for others to follow.  The government can use cannabis as a template to legalize other street drugs.  The legalization of street drugs will legitimize the market for such commodities while singlehandedly illuminating the black market.  Although there could be some rebellion by current traffickers, the government can task police forces to quell such social unrest.  Legalizing these street drugs poses a question of, are these people capable of making their own decision?  These drug users are adults however, there are risks to addiction which may cause their judgement to be invalid.  Therefore, the government needs to set up a program wherein they individually assess each person upon the time they become legal age.  This means the government will have to hire a task force to do psych assessments for these people.  This task force will evidently have the say as to where each person can make a rational decision to take such drugs.  Moreover, the government needs to have a limit on how much of each drug can be purchased per person per day.  This will prevent overdoses.  The legalization of drugs will create a new market in which these commodities can be legally enjoyed.  Private business has the most to gain as a result.  The government will have to convince the current traffickers to obtain more education so they can legitimize their business.  Accessibility to these commodities will increase as people will be more likely to try these drugs.  The safety of people will be protected as the government will need to set up standards for the legalization of these drugs.  It is also likely that the demand for black market fentanyl will be reduced as the street drugs they were used for are sold in the legitimate market.  This will cause a reduced amount of deaths.  This option is not however, likely to gain a lot of public support.


Option 2:  Legalize possession.


This option is very feasible as it could easily decriminalize the possession of these street drugs.  This will free up the judicial system from the many frivolous cases of drug possession.  This option however is not recommended because the black market will still be actively selling drugs which are illegal.  This will still result in fentanyl lacing which will still result in death.  Therefore, the partial legalization through possession will have no effect on the livelihoods of the users.  The safety of the illegal drugs is uncertain which is why peoples safety will still be at risk.  There is likely to be moderate support for this option however, this will only result in a more active black market.


Option 3:  Education and increase accessibility to Narcan.


This option is very feasible, however, those that have already made up their minds will still use illicit drugs regardless of what any authority has to say.  It is true that Narcan saves lives, however, are people educated about it and will they be willing to have some government agency preach to them about its benefits.  Currently there are safe places where people cannot be charged for possession or usage of drugs.  The public thinks that this promotes drug usage.  People need these safe places in the even that they overdose.  Between 2009 and 2015 the average cost of treating an overdose has increased from $58500 to $92400.  Overdose patients are arriving in hospitals in the worst shape, requiring longer stays and higher levels of treatment.  These safety insertion sites provide a means for the government to reduce these expenses.  These safety injection sites promote the safety of the usage of such illicit drugs.


Option 4:  Status quo.


Maintaining the status quo is a good option as cannabis has recently been legalized. The government can use this action to determine the feasibility of legalizing other drugs.  The legalization of cannabis here in Canada has generated a market that is highly profitable.  Sales of cannabis in specialized shops ensure that what is being sold is up to government standards.  The legalization has prevented cannabis from being laced with fentanyl.  Through the legalization of cannabis, the safety of people, especially users are ensured.  Public acceptability for maintaining the status quo is very high.  There is so much support for this option from the general public because many citizens have been using this drug to even help them with their illness such as anxiety or even cancer.  Cannabis has many medical benefits and the public realizes this.  This option is also very sustainable as hemp products are biodegradable and can be used as alternatives to other materials.  As mentioned earlier in this note, this option provides an opportunity for the gradual legalization of other drugs.


Recommendation:


Option four is recommended.