Illegal Drugs in the U.S.

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The trade and use of illegal drugs in the US and around the world is one of the world’s biggest and most prevalent problems. Illegal drug trade accounts for more than $300 billion a year. The legal, physical, and mental consequences of drug use easily outweigh the so called “high” that people receive from using them. Though current users wouldn’t consent to this statement, everyone else including rehabilitated users would agree. They would also agree that drug use is the easiest and quickest route to destroying your life. (Gahlinger 75)

The most commonly used and most controversial drug is Cannabis, aka Marijuana. It is the most commonly used drug in the United States, and has been for a very long time. Its use can be traced back as far as the third millennium B.C. It became illegal to use marijuana in the United States in 1937, because so many people were abusing it. Soon after its illegalization, the illegal trade of marijuana began. (www.wikipedia.org)

Marijuana has several psychological effects when consumed including hallucination and a reported sensation of the world slowing down. These are the just two of the reasons why people use marijuana. People don’t realize that smoking marijuana regularly has long term effects like being 5.7 times more likely to get lung-cancer. It is also stated that many people believe marijuana is a “gateway drug”, which means that after you try it, you are far more likely to do other drugs. (www.wikipedia.org)

Cocaine is the second most commonly used drug in the US and around the world. The United States is the world’s largest consumer of cocaine. It was reported in 1999 that 3.7 million Americans used cocaine regularly. Colombia is the world’s foremost provider of cocaine because of the le...

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...eroin. There are about 250 square miles in Afghanistan devoted to the growth of the opium poppies. Heroin is one of the most addicting drugs which is why in some countries they have started prescribing doses of heroin to addicts. The people who benefit from this are the addicts because they know there getting clean heroin, and they don’t have to worry about being arrested. (www.wikipedia.org)

Illegal drug trade is the manufacturing, distribution, and sale of drugs around the globe. The only drugs being legally produced are tobacco and alcohol. Illegal drug trading occurs on the black market and is prevalent in every country. It is often associated with organized crime and street gangs. The drugs are sold to gangs who turn around and sell them to street dealers. The street dealers then distribute the drugs to consumers just like your local grocery store sells food.

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