An Essay About Gore Vidal's Drugs: A Case for Legalizing Marijuana

In an article entitled "Drugs: Case for Legalizing Marijuana" by Gore Vidal, Vidal makes a strong case for legalizing all drugs in this country. He discusses basic human nature and historical events to make this claim. Basically, Gore Vidal makes three main points about drug use. Gore Vidal tells the reader that making drugs illegal does not stop drug addiction and trafficking, why legalizing drugs would work, and why legalization is still unlikely to occur.

First, Gore Vidal explains why making drugs illegal does not stop drug use and trafficking. He explains that he himself has tried everything once, and contrary to our popular belief, he has not become a drug user or abuser. He brings to our mind the ideas that our country was founded on in that every man has the right to do what he wants as long as it doesn't interfere with his neighbor's right to do what he wants. He cites all of the irrational fears that we have such as "if everyone is allowed to take drugs everyone will and the GNP will decrease, the Commies will stop us from making everyone free, and we shall end up a race of Zombies, passively murmuring "groovie" to one another" (Vidal). He explains that while some men may certainly want to kill themselves, most men do not.