Pubdate: Tue, 02 Jul 2002
Source: Charleston Gazette (WV)
Copyright: 2002 Charleston Gazette
Contact:  http://www.wvgazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/77

LEGALIZE?

War On Narcotics

BELIEVE it or not, an American religious denomination has called for 
legalizing all narcotics, which would halt the billion-dollar national "war 
on drugs" and free hundreds of thousands of prison inmates.

Meeting last week in Quebec City, the Unitarian Universalist Association 
passed a resolution saying:

"Drug abuse issues are essentially matters for medical attention. We do not 
believe that drug use should be considered criminal behavior." It indicated 
that narcotics should be regulated through channels similar to those used 
for prescription drugs, alcohol and tobacco.

The denomination's president, who is black, said:

"The so-called 'war on drugs' is creating violence, endangering children, 
clogging the criminal justice system, eroding civil liberties, and 
disproportionately punishing people of color. It's time for a cease-fire."

Of course, conservative politicians will denounce this proposal and call 
instead for locking up more Americans. But we think the church stand 
reflects a lot of wisdom.

Prohibition, America's historic attempt to ban alcohol, was a colossal 
flop. And the "war on drugs" is virtually a carbon copy of it.
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