Many police officers believe drug use changes behavior and leads to increased criminal activity. In particular, as adolescents more frequently act out their aggressive feelings, physical violence and murder are on the rise. Issues that should be considered in the drug legalization debate are whether legalizing drugs will reduce crime, what drugs should be legalized, whether unlevied drug sales and consumption should be permitted, whether children will be allowed to buy drugs, whether driving while intoxicated laws should be enforced to include drug consumption, and who will take care of people when they become addicted to legalized drugs. The author contends that drug legalization will result in greater drug use and that marijuana, the drug most legalization advocates are pushing to legalize, is not a benign substance. Data are provided on the use of heroin, cocaine, and marijuana and on drug effects. 2 tables and 1 figure