Pubdate: Thu, 30 May 2002
Source: Denver Rocky Mountain News (CO)
Copyright: 2002, Denver Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.rockymountainnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/371
Author:  John Randall
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

SHOULD GOVERNMENT BE IN THE DOPE BUSINESS?

In spite of the well-thought-out April 27 article "America in a fix" by 
John L. Kane regarding the War on Drugs, I find it hard to believe that 
legalization or a policy of relative benign neglect (of the law) is going 
to become official policy.

If we consider how other consumer items are handled in this country there 
is no item over which the government doesn't have regulatory authority, 
from the food you eat to the fabric in your clothes to the gas in your car 
to the air that you breathe. Virtually everything you deal with has 
oversight via some agency willing and ready to pass legislation, invoke 
regulation and sue if necessary to maintain control.

Now consider the "legalization" or decriminalization of marijuana, medical 
or otherwise. Who is going to be in charge of quality control or 
distribution and at what level -- state or federal? The government has 
neither the time, talent nor inclination to reverse course on the issue 
when the War on Drugs provides so many jobs.

Also, keep in mind this is the same government that brought us the war in 
Vietnam, burned the Branch Davidians beyond recognition, can't control our 
borders, and had little or no clue about the dozens of terrorists and cells 
in this country planning the Sept. 11 attacks. A reversal on the legality 
of marijuana would require a tacit admission that the previous policy was 
wrong; and what do you do with the people incarcerated for marijuana 
offenses (not to mention their guards)? Is this really the government you 
want in charge of your dope?

John Randall

Aurora
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