DEA Guide Tells "How To Hold Your Own in a Drug Legalization Debate"

LAW ENFORCEMENT November 1994

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has released a 41-page guide for officials, police officers, and citizens who are invited to debate against the legalization of drugs to help them prepare (Drug Enforcement Administration, "How to Hold Your Own in a Drug Legalization Debate," 1994).

The report is a result of an invitation-only two-day conference held in Quantico, Virginia in August for leaders in drug enforcement. The event, called the Anti-Legalization Forum, was attended by five city police officials, representatives of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Families in Action, the California Office of Criminal Justice Planning, the Michigan Office of Drug Control Policy, the DEA, the Kennedy School at Harvard University, and other local and state officials.

"This booklet is intended as a resource for you as you are faced with the questions and issues associated with the debate on the legalization of drugs," wrote Thomas Constantine, administrator of the DEA, in the introduction. "The debate on the legalization of drugs cannot be won if we remain silent."

The report outlines ten anti-legalization position statements drafted by the seminar participants. For each of these statements, the manual spells out arguments for and against the claim.

• Crime, violence and drug use go hand-in-hand.
  
  
• We have made significant progress in reducing drug use in this country. Now is not the time to abandon our efforts.
  
  
• Legalization of drugs will lead to increased use and increased addiction levels.
  
  
• Any revenues generated by taxing legalized drugs would quickly evaporate in light of the increased social costs associated with legalizing drugs.
  
  
• There are no compelling medical reasons to prescribe marijuana or heroin to sick people.
  
  
• Legalization and decriminalization of drugs have been a dismal failure in other nations.
  
  
• Alcohol has caused significant health, social and crime problems in this country, and legalized drugs would only make the situation worse.
  
  
• Drug control spending is a minor portion of the U.S. budget, and compared to the costs of drug abuse, spending is minuscule.
  
  
• Drug prohibition is working.
  
  
• Drug legalization would have an adverse effect on low-income communities.

[The DEA will be releasing the document after Jan. 1, 1995 at no charge. At that time, to obtain a copy of this report, contact the DEA Public Affairs Office at 202-307-7977 or 202-401-7834. However, the Drug Policy Foundation is currently distributing copies of the report for $3.50 (202-537-5005).]