StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Legal Provisions against the Use of Meth - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
The paper "Legal Provisions against the Use of Meth " discusses that generally, in fighting the proliferation of methamphetamine, the focus for detection, apprehension, prosecution, and conviction should definitely be on the manufacturers and traders…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER91% of users find it useful
Legal Provisions against the Use of Meth
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Legal Provisions against the Use of Meth"

Easily acquired drugs are cheap and they can be manufactured out of chemical components that could be obtained legally. 

ts danger does not just lie in the fact that it has affected a great number of young individuals, a majority of whom are based in the western states.  Methamphetamine is a stimulant that is very addictive and particularly targets the central nervous system.  This drug is derived from amphetamine, an element commonly found in bronchial inhalers and nasal decongestants.  However, according to the National Institute for Drug Abuse (NIDA), “methamphetamine differs from amphetamine in that at comparable doses much higher levels of methamphetamine get into the brain, making it a more potent stimulant drug”  (n.d.).    This particular drug when used frequently could result in long-lasting adverse effects, including psychological issues.

Due to its potent addictive characteristics, methamphetamine falls under the Schedule II category of the federal Uniformed Controlled Substances Act or UCSA.  Three bases could prompt the drug’s categorization in Schedule II of the said law.   These are “(1) the substance has a high potential for abuse; (2) the substance has currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, or currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions; and (3) the abuse of the substance may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence” (Uniformed Controlled Substances Act 1994).  With a law that clearly defines it as illegal, the framework for fighting meth addiction through the apprehension, prosecution, and conviction of individuals involved in the manufacture, sale, and ownership of the drug has been established.  However, it is necessary to make a further analysis of the law that affirms its illegalization to acknowledge the details upon which lie the bases for the law’s implementation.

   
Unlike other drugs which require the importation of raw materials not endemic to the US, such as coca leaves for cocaine, the chemical components of methamphetamine could be easily acquired from certain medical drugs. Pseudoephedrine, which is the most important element in making methamphetamine, could be derived from very common decongestants, such as Sudafed.  The manufacture and sale of pseudoephedrine are legal.   Article 4 of the UCSA has stated that certain ingredients of cocaine are considered illegal or prohibited.  This renders the manufacture and trade of such components difficult to implement. 

However, this is not the case with pseudoephedrine.  The silence of the UCSA regarding the manufacture and sale of this chemical which is vital to the creation of methamphetamine is one clear limitation of the UCSA.  This limitation has also become a major weakness in the fight against meth. The availability of raw materials continues to encourage illegal drug manufacturers and traders to set up a network of smaller laboratories in which meth can be made.

As the problem of methamphetamine addiction worsens across the country, several states have considered introducing restrictions on the manufacture and sale of pseudoephedrine.  One particular proposal is the sale of Sudafed to people who can show a doctor’s prescription.    However, such “proposals have met with stiff resistance from drug makers and pharmacy groups, who say the measures would place an undue burden on cold and allergy sufferers” (Goodnough).  However, the manufacturers and pharmacy groups have instead supported suggestions that would heighten the capabilities of the authorities in monitoring the sales of pseudoephedrine.  At least, this gives the government a free hand in ensuring that the supply of legally manufactured pseudoephedrine is accounted for.

When it comes to the issue of illegal drugs, the mere users are not to be treated as criminals but rather as victims. The law, particularly through the UCSA, has defined methamphetamine as an illegal addictive substance, making its production and sale criminal in nature.  However, the definition is not sufficient to empower law enforcement and anti-drug bodies in effectively winning the fight against meth.  Since manufacturing and selling meth means money for the drug traders, they would never be expected to stop as long as the raw materials are very accessible.  Unfortunately, the law still does not have a specific stand against pseudoephedrine.  Since this is still very easily obtainable, detection would have to concentrate on identifying the locations and the operators of the manufacturing laboratories, which happens to be a more difficult procedure. If detection is already hampered by legal obstacles, the rest that follows, from apprehension to conviction would almost be impossible. 

If an individual is caught acquiring a sizable amount of pseudoephedrine which could be used to produce meth, he could not be caught because this element is not found anywhere in the schedules mentioned in UCSA.  A room with all the equipment that can be used for producing meth as well as great amounts of anti-cold pills and decongestants may be considered a meth manufacturing facility.  However, even if the ingredients are there but no actual finished product is found, the operator of the facility may still be able to find a legal argument that will free him from any case.  These are situations that clearly show that there is a need to review the particular provisions of the UCSA on methamphetamine.

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Fighting Meth Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/law/1440883-fighting-meth
(Fighting Meth Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 Words)
https://studentshare.org/law/1440883-fighting-meth.
“Fighting Meth Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/law/1440883-fighting-meth.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Legal Provisions against the Use of Meth

Company Law and Mac Stevenson

The provision of section S 148(4) is that a no liability company must use 'No liability' or 'NL' at the end of the company's name.... The provisions of the no liability company tend to encourage investors into investing in mining companies.... The provisions of a no liability company fit this provision, as the shareholders who will purchase the share in Mac Stevenson's company will be more willing to invest in the venture.... From the paper "Company Law and Mac Stevenson" it is clear that companies are legal entities that have a separate personality apart from that of their members....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

Limits to the Power of the Security Council

Controversies have arisen, described in the following section, on the use of the broad coercive powers of the Council.... 2 This contains no assurances, however, that the Security Council's actions at all times will be within the proper purview of the constitutional provisions; there may be times when questions arise as to whether certain actions exceed the limitations of these powers....
18 Pages (4500 words) Essay

Legal policy and organisational framework

ese Acts were – they do mention some provisions for vulnerable adults, but she points out that very little action has been taken on behalf of these adults using these legal provisions.... The challenge of elder abuse, therefore, calls on lawyers to be creative and use their imagination and skills in drawing on existing remedies from statute and common law and adapting these to respond to individual complaints of elder abuse.... rammer in the 1996 article cited describes what the provisions of....
12 Pages (3000 words) Essay

Evaluation of the Strategy of Magna Carta

erhaps the most highly emphasized clause in law books was contained in clause 29 which lawyers and politicians habitually emphasized to set the foundation of the right to due process as it specifically states: 'No freeman is to be taken or imprisoned or disseized of his free tenement or his liberties or free customs or outlawed or exiled or in any way ruined, nor will we go against such a man or send against him save by the lawful judgment of his peers or by the law of the land....
7 Pages (1750 words) Essay

Supreme Court of the US

The suspicion that someone was selling methamphetamine illegally to the locals, more so to the underage [teenagers] and that and a popular life has been lost due to inappropriate use of the said chemical has been proved beyond doubt.... Doe as a dealer and the location of the meth lab, leading to the accused being convicted and his meth lab being closed.... That even though the search and seizure protections under the Fourth Amendment infringes on privacy of modern day cell phone use[s], specific exceptions may well still justify the same process without legal warrants that has been an important part of the amendment; “the exigencies of the situation” that makes it objectively and reasonably compelling for the law enforcement to conduct [a] warrantless search[es] (Katz v....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Foundation in Property Law

As a result, if the provisions of the will are strictly applied, the entire proceeds of the sale, i.... Hence, from a legal standpoint, the property belongs to Carrie solely and the disposition of the property will be in accordance with her wishes.... This paper "Foundation in Property Law" focuses on the fact that in the first instance since this property is owned as joint beneficial tenants, it means that the entire property and proceeds of its sale will belong to all three owners – Anna, Beth, and Carrie....
11 Pages (2750 words) Assignment

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations

This report "The Provision and use of Work Equipment Regulations" examines the case of Abbie who has refused to use the new machines that speed up production.... or Abbie, the issue is covered under the Provision and use of Work Equipment Regulations of 1998 (PUWER)1.... The current information on the equipment is that it is suitable for the purpose it is intended for and takes into account the working conditions, health and safety needs of the employees because Roz has promised to offer training for use of the equipment....
8 Pages (2000 words) Report

The Business That James and Matthew Run

Therefore, Steve cannot be removed from office through the use of this s203C of the Corporations Act.... As a result, we could make use of section 206B of the Corporations Act.... teve could make use of this section and argue that the other directors cannot remove him from office unless he is found guilty of serious breaches of the Corporations Act.... The paper "The Business That James and Matthew Run" discusses that actions of Darren amounted to a breach of duty and civil proceedings should be taken against him in a court of law....
6 Pages (1500 words) Math Problem
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us