Pubdate: Sun, 15 Dec 2002
Source: Ogdensburg Journal/Advance News (NY)
Copyright: 2002 St. Lawrence County Newspapers Corp
Contact: http://www.ogd.com/letter.htm
Website: http://www.ogd.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/689
Author: Stephen Heath
Note: Accepts LTEs by mail only! Must be signed w/phone#

DRUG BUST

To the editor:

Slow news day?  Maybe so, because this bust was hardly noteworthy.  It
was just one of the 4000+ drug arrests that occurred nationwide on Dec
5.  Add in the 4000+ for Dec 6, Dec 7 and each day thereafter and what
you find is a country that is still consuming illegal drugs at a
record pace, while doing nothing to reduce the amount of demand.

What is being served are the myriad agencies, courtrooms, drug testing
companies, jail facilities and other outfits that benefit from the
Prohibition industry.  I note that no less than sixteen such agencies
cashed in on this individual bust.

Prohibition is a good policy for only two groups.  Those doing the
prohibiting and of course the criminal gangs and cartels who enjoy the
obscene profits generated by our current drug laws. The ghost of Al
Capone is no doubt raising a glass in salute to the IBET task force
and all those who perpetuate this taxpayer fraud on the North American
public.

STEPHEN HEATH

Clearwater,  Fla.
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MAP posted-by: SHeath(DPFFlorida)