Pubdate: Fri, 12 Jul 2002 Source: Cincinnati Enquirer (OH) Copyright: 2002 The Cincinnati Enquirer Contact: http://enquirer.com/today/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/86 Author: Barry Schlimmne Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?206 (Ohio Campaign for New Drug Policies) WAR ON DRUGS BOOSTS PRICE, HELPS FEED CRIME Drug law reform in Ohio? It's about time. Put the "boogey-man" hype aside, the fear tactics that you have been fed by the people who have something to gain by maintaining the drug war. Then ask yourself. Who among us would not want to have all people to be healthy and free of drug dependence? If your answer to that question is "Certainly, everyone I know," then consider this - - alcohol prohibition tore America apart during the '20s and '30s and spawned organized crime. Today, the war on drugs keeps it going. Criminal penalties have not, will not, and cannot prevent drug use. Just as it did with booze, criminal penalties drive up the price of drugs, which (a) makes dealing very profitable and (b) increases real crime because addicts must steal to support their addiction to expensive drugs. We, as a compassionate society, have elected to make the consumption of alcoholic beverages legal. For those who abuse the substance, we have any number of private-sector treatment programs. The same logic will work for drug abuse. The three extremely wealthy businessmen who are bankrolling support for "decriminalization;" what do they personally have to gain by compassionately bringing an end to the harsh treatment of non-violent drug users? And will Bob Taft gain by keeping you in fear of compassionately treating rather than incarcerating a non violent drug user? Barry Schlimmne Montgomery - --- MAP posted-by: Ariel