Wouldn’t legalizing drugs reduce crime?

  • No. Crimes are committed by addicts to attain their drugs of choice, not because their drugs are illegal.
  • Decriminalizing drug use does not take away its addictive power or the criminal organizations who profit from drug trafficking. The black market would still exist.
  • Drug use itself encourages violent behavior because of the user’s impaired judgment.
  • Sexual assault is frequently facilitated by substance use – some estimates put the number at over 60 percent, a number sure to rise if use were legal.
  • Drugged driving is becoming more of a problem every year; 11 million Americans reported driving under the influence of drugs in 2004.