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<title>Project 8: Should the law on drugs be changed?</title>
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<div align="center"><font color="#FFCC33" size="4" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong><font color="#FF6600" size="3">Project
8: </font></strong></font><font size="3" color="#FF6600" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><b>Should
the law on drugs be changed?</b></b></font></div>
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b><font color="#FF9900">To
print this page: right click it and choose print</font></b></font><br>
<br>
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Many drugs
are controlled by the law and are illegal to have in your possession.
<br>
<br>
Some people, including police officers and politicians, have recently
been suggesting that the laws for some drugs like cannabis should be
relaxed. The government has made some changes to the law on cannabis,
but it remains an illegal drug.<br>
<br>
First make a list of all the reasons you can think of why it might be
a good idea to make cannabis easier to buy. Reasons often given include:
</font></p>
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<ul>
<li>
<div align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">It
would cut crime, the involvement of criminals and gang violence. </font></div>
</li>
<li>
<div align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Fewer
people would get criminal records and have their lives ruined. </font></div>
</li>
<li>
<div align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">It
would save police and court time and cut the jail population. </font></div>
</li>
<li>
<div align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">More
people would come forward for help if they had drug problems. </font></div>
</li>
<li>
<div align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">There
could be more control over the quality of drugs. </font></div>
</li>
<li>
<div align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Millions
of people ignore the current laws. </font></div>
</li>
<li>
<div align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">It
could be taxed and the money used to help people who have drug problems.
</font></div>
</li>
<li>
<div align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">It
would reduce the thrill for young people who like to do illegal things.
</font></div>
</li>
<li>
<div align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Alcohol
and cigarettes are legal and kill more people. </font></div>
</li>
<li>
<div align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">It
should be up to individuals which drugs they use. </font></div>
</li>
<li>
<div align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">There
could still be controls to stop young people getting it. </font></div>
</li>
<li>
<div align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Amsterdam
is a good example showing it can help lower drug problems. </font></div>
</li>
<li>
<div align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">It
wouldn't solve all drug problems but it would improve the situation.
</font></div>
</li>
<li>
<div align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">It
would mean young people were less likely to come into contact with
drugs like cocaine and heroin. </font></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div align="left">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Next make
a list of all the reasons you can think of NOT to make cannabis easier
to buy. Reasons often given include: </font></p>
</div>
<ul>
<li>
<div align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">More
people would use drugs and there would be more drug problems.</font></div>
</li>
<li>
<div align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Very
young children would have access to drugs. </font></div>
</li>
<li>
<div align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">There
would still be lots of drug-related crime. </font></div>
</li>
<li>
<div align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">The
drugs gangs would just change to selling other drugs and to other
forms of crime.</font></div>
</li>
<li>
<div align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Just
because alcohol and cigarettes are legal doesn't mean we should do
the same for other drugs.</font></div>
</li>
<li>
<div align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">It
is immoral and gives out the wrong message to young people. </font></div>
</li>
<li>
<div align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Where
would it all end? What other drugs would be made legal? </font></div>
</li>
<li>
<div align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Amsterdam
has become a junkie paradise. </font></div>
</li>
<li>
<div align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">It
just would not work.</font></div>
</li>
<li>
<div align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Laws
should be respected. </font></div>
</li>
<li>
<div align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Drug
use is not just about individual decisions. It affects other people
as well.</font></div>
</li>
<li>
<div align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Things
are bad now but would be even worse. </font></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><br>
Now ask other people whether they think the law should be changed to make
cannabis more available. You might ask fellow students, teachers, parents
and other adults. What do they think and what reasons do they give for
their views? Record this in note form in your project book. You may also
like to consider the arguments for and against changing the law for other
drugs such as ecstasy.<br>
<br>
Write a report on your findings. Give the reasons for and against changing
the law, explain what other people have said and conclude by saying which
argument you think is strongest and why.<br>
</font></div>
<div align="right">
<p align="left"><br>
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3" color="#FF6600"><b>Resources<br>
<br>
</b> <font size="2" color="#000000">Here are a selection of websites
that may help with your project. Please remember that DrugScope/D-World
cannot be held responsible for the content of other sites.</font></font></p>
<p align="left"><a href="http://www.drugscope.org.uk/druginfo/drugsearch/faq_template.asp?file=%5Cwip%5C11%5C1%5C2%5Claws.html" target="_blank"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b>Drug
Laws</b></font></a> - <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">DrugScope
FAQ.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><a href="http://www.drugscope.org.uk/druginfo/drugsearch/faq_template.asp?file=%5Cwip%5C11%5C1%5C2%5Clegalise.html" target="_blank"><b>Should
Drugs be Legalised?</b></a> - DrugScope FAQ.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><a href="http://www.channel4.com/health/microsites/0-9/4health/drugs/lar_index.html" target="_blank"><b>Channel4Health</b></a>
- Guide to Drugs and the law, including information on your rights.</font></p>
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