Pubdate: Fri, 22 Mar 2002 Source: Herald-Dispatch, The (WV) Copyright: 2002 The Herald-Dispatch Contact: http://www.herald-dispatch.com/hdinfo/letters.html Website: http://www.hdonline.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1454 Author: Robert Sharpe THERE IS A DOWN SIDE TO WORK OF TASK FORCE The work of the Huntington Drug Task Force is no doubt well intended, but ultimately counterproductive. Forcibly limiting the supply of illegal drugs while demand remains constant only increases the profitability of drug trafficking. In terms of addictive drugs such as meth, a spike in street prices leads desperate addicts to increase criminal activity to feed desperate habits. The drug war doesn't fight crime, it fuels crime. 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 enforceable 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 -- pot 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. Robert Sharpe Program Officer Drug Policy Alliance Washington, D.C. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth