Pubdate: Fri, 31 May 2002
Source: Marshfield News-Herald, The (WI)
Copyright: 2002 Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.marshfieldnewsherald.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2236
Author: Robert Sharpe

MARIJUANA PROHIBITION IS DEADLY

Editor: Detective Jackie Albers was quoted in a May 21 article as stating 
"when we have a rash of burglaries, the reason for the burglaries is that 
person needs money to buy dope." So-called drug-related crime is in fact 
prohibition-related. Forcibly limiting the supply of illegal drugs while 
demand remains constant only increases the profitability of drug 
trafficking. In terms of addictive drugs like heroin, a spike in street 
prices leads desperate addicts to increase criminal activity to feed 
desperate habits. The drug war doesn't fight crime, it fuels crime.

The burden on taxpayers grows every year as ever more drug offenders are 
imprisoned. America now has the highest incarceration rate in the world, 
yet drug use continues unabated as new dealers immediately step in to reap 
inflated illicit market profits. Let's not kid ourselves about protecting 
children. Illegal drug dealers don't ID for age, but they do recruit minors 
immune to adult sentences.

Taxing and regulating marijuana, the most popular illicit drug, is a 
cost-effective alternative to never-ending drug war. There is a big 
difference between condoning marijuana use and protecting children from 
drugs. Decriminalization acknowledges the social reality of marijuana use 
and frees users from the stigma of life-shattering criminal records. What's 
really needed is a regulated market with age controls.

Separating the hard and soft drug markets is critical. Marijuana may be 
relatively harmless compared to alcohol - pot has never been shown to cause 
an overdose death - but marijuana prohibition is deadly. As long as 
marijuana distribution remains in the hands of organized crime, consumers 
will continue to come into contact with hard drugs like cocaine. Drug 
policy reform may send the wrong message to children, but I like to think 
the children themselves are more important than the message. Tough-on-drugs 
politicians would no doubt disagree.

Robert Sharpe, M.P.A.

Program Officer, Drug Policy Alliance, Washington, D.C.
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