Pubdate: Wed, 19 Jul 2000 Source: Chicago Sun-Times (IL) Copyright: 2000 The Sun-Times Co. Contact: 401 N. Wabash, Chicago IL 60611 Feedback: http://www.suntimes.com/geninfo/feedback.html Website: http://www.suntimes.com/ DIALOGUE CAN SPUR NEW LOOK AT DRUGS Every so often the topic of decriminalizing drugs surfaces, only to be squashed by fears that the proposal is too controversial to merit serious discussion. In 1995, Criminal Court Judge Richard E. Neville stirred quite a debate among law enforcement officials when he advocated legalizing drugs and challenged lawmakers to have a dialogue on this issue. At the time, he and other supporters argued that removing drugs from the street trade would reduce violence. James E. Gierach, a lawyer who once ran for Cook County state's attorney, also has advocated an end to the drug war, which, according to the Human Rights Watch, has resulted in a racial disparity in sentences for drug crimes. Given that the skyrocketing prison population and the continued street violence related to gang and drug wars affect African Americans disproportionately, it is entirely fitting that a discussion of decriminalizing drugs should be on the agenda at the anti-violence summit of African American leaders that Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) has scheduled for Saturday. For a politician to express any support for legalizing drugs carries a political risk since opponents later could accuse him of being soft on crime. And to be clear, Rush is not advocating legalization; rather, he correctly observes that there should at least be discussion on the drug trade and violence. Rush also intends to take a look at the Prohibition experience to see if it is relevant to the drug issue. Indeed, now may be the right time to tackle this issue. The judicial system has softened its stance. For example, more court systems are choosing to divert those convicted on minor drug offenses to special drug courts, where they are monitored while they receive substance abuse treatment instead of being sent to prison. There are many options between strict enforcement of the current drug laws and decriminalization, but in order to determine whether there is a better strategy for combatting illegal drug trafficking, the pros and cons of decriminalizing drugs have to be debated in an open forum. Hopefully, the leadership summit can help spark this debate as participants look for ways to significantly reduce black-on-black violence. This is just one issue that will be on the agenda. Rush is to be commended for calling this meeting to address the violence continuing to plague too many neighborhoods. - --- MAP posted-by: Don Beck