Pubdate: Wed, 18 Apr 2001
Source: Gloucester Daily Times (MA)
Copyright: 2001 Essex County Newspapers, Incorporated
Contact:  http://www.gloucestertimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/169
Author: Robert Sharpe

BLAME 'WAR ON DRUGS'

Ipswich Republican Rep. Brad Hill is absolutely right about marijuana 
leading to the use of more dangerous substances -- and the drug war is to 
blame.

As the most popular illicit drug in America, marijuana currently provides 
the black market contacts that introduce users to drugs like heroin. This 
"gateway" is the direct result of a fundamentally flawed policy.

In Europe, the Netherlands has successfully reduced overall drug use by 
replacing marijuana prohibition with regulation. Dutch rates of drug use 
are significantly lower than U.S. rates in every category. Separating the 
hard and soft drug markets and establishing age controls for marijuana has 
proven more effective than zero tolerance.

Given that marijuana is arguably safer than legal alcohol, it makes no 
sense to waste tax dollars on failed policies that finance organized crime 
and needlessly expose children to dangerous drugs.

Drug policy reform may send the wrong message to children, but I like to 
think the children themselves are more important than the message. 
Opportunistic "tough on drugs" politicians would no doubt disagree.

ROBERT SHARPE
Program Officer
The Lindesmith Center-Drug Policy Foundation
4455 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite B-500, Washington, D.C. 20008-2328
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MAP posted-by: Beth