Pubdate: Sat, 20 Oct 2001
Source: Denver Rocky Mountain News (CO)
Copyright: 2001 Denver Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.mapinc.org/media/371
Website: http://www.denver-rmn.com/
Author: Daniel E. Shier
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

ANSWER: LEGALIZE DRUGS 

Experienced law enforcement personnel could be more profitably employed
elsewhere. 

Drug profits have supported terrorism from the Taliban to past CIA excesses
in Latin American. They feed endemic corruption that oppresses the little
people from Mexico to China. The long-suffering people of Colombia have had
no chance for a just and stable society. 

Criminalization of drugs has filled our jails to overflowing. This has
precluded the chances of many young males for productive lives, particularly
in the black and Hispanic communities. 

Legalization of drugs in Holland has brought a greater percentage of addicts
into treatment programs. Overall the rate of addiction did not change when
drugs were legalized. Petty theft to feed a drug habit was much reduced. 

We don't have a successful strategy for winning this war. There is no
evidence that we can ever develop one. We are simply squandering resources
that could be better used elsewhere. 

Daniel E. Shier, Golden
- ---
MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk