Legalization Of Drungs Essays - Drug Control Law, Drug Culture

Legalization Of Drungs The legalization of drugs has always been a problem in the United States. Some people agree with the Idea of legalizing drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and many others. These people argue that with the legalization of these drugs the crime rate and other social problems would reduce. While their opponent argue that the legalization of drugs would only add to the already high crime rates, and many social problems we have in the United States. Both sides both have very good arguments as to why drugs should or should not be legalized in the United States. The battle between the government date back as early as the year 1914. This is the year in which the government passed the Harrison Narcotic act. This act asked for the punishment of those who were illegally in possession and use of marijuana. Penalties for the sale, and or, possession of illegal drugs were established by the Drug Abuse Control Amendments of 1965. Surprisingly enough, through all of these drug laws, marijuana remained legal until 1970. Even though most drugs were now illegal in the Untied States, more than fourteen million Americans used drugs at least once a month in the late 1980's. What would be some of the benefits from the legalization of drugs? Well, for the actual user there would be numerous benefits from the legalization of such drugs as marijuana. First would be the price of the drugs. Drug costs would dramatically decrease by ninety percent if they were made legal. Also the availability of them would increase. Heroine, at one time was close to becoming legal, would have been available at any corner market, and even treated like aspirin without any restrictions. Along with the benefits, comes' the obvious dangers that would rise from the legalization of drugs. One of the first considerations that comes to a person's mind when thinking of the possible dangers drugs is the thought of children being able to obtain marijuana, and other such drugs. If it is easy for the under aged to obtain such things as alcohol and cigarettes, wouldn't it be just as easy to come in contact with these new legal drugs? What many adults don't consider is the fact that mant teenagers and young children already have acceess to these illegal drugs. ?Today, just 11% of Americans report seeing drugs available where they live: After legalization, there could be a place to purchase drugs in every neighborhood.? Once again this information is hard to believe. Although drugs are illegal, drugs can be found anywhere in the United States, and they are most definitely already in just about every neighborhood. There are also fears of the crime rate increasing in result of the legalization of drugs. The U.S. Department of Justice reports that criminals seem to commit six times more homicides, four times assaults, and almost one and a half times as many robberies under the influence of drugs. The main reason of these high statistics is the result of there criminals trying to obtain money in order to buy the drugs, but if the drugs were legal and in turn had a lower price, maybe not as many crimes would take place. Many other countries have legalized drugs inside their boundaries. A few of their places include European countries such as; Switzerland, England, the Netherlands, and Italy. In the Netherlands, anyone over the age of seventeen is able to visit marijuana ?coffee shop? and pick a type of marijuana like a little kid picks a flavor of ice cream. The use of pot by adolescents the Netherlands has raised by nearly 200%. The possession of small amounts of drugs in Italy has not been considered a crime since 1975. Today, Italy has 300,000 heroin addicts, the highest rate of heroin addiction in all of Europe. Mexico is another country with related drug problems. In Mexico there is no serious enforcement against drug distribution. Mexico is the major source of marijuana. The United States' State Department has stated that Mexico ?does not have a serious drug problem?. So if less strict laws against drugs seem to be working better than completely outlawing them, shouldn't the U.S. try to lay off of the drug users

A Short History of the Chinese in Cuba

A Short History of the Chinese in Cuba The Chinese first arrived in Cuba in significant numbers in the late 1850s to toil in Cuba’s sugarcane fields. At that time, Cuba was arguably the largest producer of sugar in the world. Due to the diminishing African slave trade after England’s abolition of slavery in 1833 and the decline of slavery in the United States, a labor shortage in Cuba led plantation owners to search for workers elsewhere. China emerged as the labor source following deep social upheaval after the First and Second Opium Wars. Changes in the farming system, a surge in population growth, political discontentment, natural disasters, banditry, and ethnic strife- especially in southern China- led many farmers and peasants to leave China and look for work overseas. While some willingly left China for contract work in Cuba, others were coerced into semi-indentured servitude. The First Ship On June 3, 1857, the first ship arrived in Cuba carrying about 200 Chinese laborers on eight-year contracts. In many cases, these Chinese â€Å"coolies† were treated just as the African slaves were. The situation was so severe that the imperial Chinese government even sent investigators to Cuba in 1873 to look into a large number of suicides by Chinese laborers in Cuba, as well as allegations of abuse and breach of contract by plantation owners. Shortly after, the Chinese labor trade was prohibited and the last ship carrying Chinese laborers reached Cuba in 1874. Establishing a Community Many of these laborers intermarried with the local population of Cubans, Africans, and mixed-race women. Miscegenation laws forbade them to marry Spaniards. These Cuban-Chinese began to develop a distinct community. At its height, in the late 1870s, there were more than 40,000 Chinese in Cuba. In Havana, they established â€Å"El Barrio Chino† or Chinatown, which grew to 44 square blocks and was once the largest such community in Latin America. In addition to working in the fields, they opened shops, restaurants, and laundries and worked in factories. A unique fusion Chinese-Cuban cuisine melding Caribbean and Chinese flavors also emerged. Residents developed community organizations and social clubs, such as the Casino Chung Wah, founded in 1893. This community association continues to assist the Chinese in Cuba today with education and cultural programs. The Chinese-language weekly, Kwong Wah Po also still publishes in Havana. At the turn of the century, Cuba saw another wave of Chinese migrants – many coming from California. The 1959 Cuban Revolution Many Chinese Cubans participated in the anti-colonial movement against Spain. There were even three Chinese-Cuban Generals who served pivotal roles in the Cuban Revolution. There still stands a monument in Havana dedicated to the Chinese that fought in the revolution. By the 1950s however, the Chinese community in Cuba was already diminishing, and following the revolution, many also left the island. The Cuban revolution did create an increase in relations with China for a short time. Cuban leader Fidel Castro severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1960, recognizing and establishing formal ties with the People’s Republic of China and Mao Zedong. But the relationship did not last long. Cuba’s friendship with the Soviet Union and Castro’s public criticism of China’s 1979 invasion of Vietnam became a sticking point for China. Relations warmed again in the 1980s during China’s economic reforms. Trade and diplomatic tours increased. By the 1990s, China was Cuba’s second largest trade partner. Chinese leaders visited the island several times in the 1990s and 2000s and further increased economic and technological agreements between the two countries. In its prominent role on the United Nations Security Council, China has long opposed U.S. sanctions on Cuba. The Cuban Chinese Today It’s estimated that Chinese Cubans (those who were born in China) only number about 400 today. Many are elderly residents who live near the run-down Barrio Chino. Some of their children and grandchildren still work in the shops and restaurants near Chinatown. Community groups are currently working to economically revitalize Havana’s Chinatown into a tourist destination. Many Cuban Chinese also migrated overseas. Well-known Chinese-Cuban restaurants have been established in New York City and Miami.