Pubdate: Fri, 22 Feb 2002 Source: Daily Star, The (NY) Copyright: 2002 The Daily Star Contact: http://www.thedailystar.com/letter.html Website: http://www.thedailystar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/557 Author: Robert Sharpe Note: Sharpe is program officer with the Drug Policy Alliance Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n257/a05.html REGULATE MARIJUANA TO CONTROL DRUGS The Daily Star's Feb. 13 editorial summed up everything that is wrong with the drug war with the line, "No matter how many you get rid of, more and more (drug dealers) will take their places." Attempts to limit the supply of illegal drugs while demand remains constant only increases the profitability of drug trafficking. In terms of addictive drugs such as heroin, a rise 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 drug war's burden on taxpayers gets higher every year as ever-more drug users and dealers are imprisoned for consensual vices. 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 the $50 billion 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. Right now kids have an easier time buying pot than beer. Separating the hard and soft drug markets is critical. Marijuana may be relatively harmless compared to alcohol - the plant 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. Robert Sharpe, Washington, D.C. - --- MAP posted-by: Alex