Legalization
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For other uses, see Legalization (disambiguation).
Legalization is the process of removing a legal prohibition against something which is currently not legal.
Legalization is a process often applied to what are now regarded as victimless crimes, such as the consumption of illegal drugs. It should be contrasted with decriminalization, which removes criminal charges from an offence but still has laws and regulations on it.
It can also occur without political upheaval in the repeal of ancient and irrelevant laws.
Those that favor legalization believe that fewer laws give more freedom to citizens. Too many laws can threaten personal freedoms and human rights. They cause overcrowded prison systems, police attenion diverted away from more serious crimes, and higher taxes, borrowed money (bonds) and fines to pay for increased law enforcement, more trials, and food and medical support for criminals in prison. During Prohibition of alcohol, many otherwise innocent people were punished for possession of alcohol. A government that passes a law that makes a common action (such as drinking alcohol) illegal risks revolt of the people when millions of people are placed in prison or fined. Crowded prisons cause shorter prison time for serious criminals. For example, in the United States, murderers are sentenced 20 years to life, but only serve 7 years of real time in the U.S. due to prison overcrowding caused by significant numbers of drug offenders.
Proponents of libertarianism support legalization of victimless crimes.
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