Pubdate: Sat, 02 Mar 2002
Source: Daily Advertiser, The (LA)
Copyright: 2002 South Louisiana Publishing
Contact:  http://www.theadvertiser.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1670
Author: Alan Randell

WHY DO GOVERNMENTS PROHIBIT SOME DRUGS?

Community policing efforts on the north end of the city are focusing on 
keeping drug dealers off the streets, Lafayette Police Chief Ronald 
Boudreaux told the Committee for Rebuild Lafayette North on Monday night.

The Committee should know why governments prohibit certain drugs.

Is it to protect users from harm?

No, that can't be the reason because users suffer more (adulterated drugs 
and jail time) when a drug is banned as compared to when it is legally 
available, and besides, the most dangerous drugs of all, alcohol and 
tobacco, are legal.

Is it to reduce the crime associated with illegal drugs?

No, that can't be the reason because banning a drug always gives rise to 
more crime (drug cartels, petty crimes by users as prohibition makes drug 
prices much higher, violent disputes between dealers) than when the drug is 
legally available.

Is it to distract our attention from more important issues and to provide 
bigger budgets by conducting a brutal, Hitler-like program to ruin the 
lives of the innocent few who ingest or sell certain drugs?

Bingo.

Alan Randell, Victoria, BC, Canada
- ---
MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager