Pubdate: Sat, 30 Jul 2005
Source: Naples Daily News (FL)
Copyright: 2005 Naples Daily News.
Contact:  http://www.naplesnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/284
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1166/a10.html?98183

FIGHT OR FUEL?

Editor, Naples Daily News:

Regarding Ronald Fraser's thoughtful July 24 op-ed piece, the drug war is a 
cure that's worse than the disease. Attempts to limit the supply of drugs 
while demand remains constant only increase the profitability of trafficking.

For addictive drugs like heroin, 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 a never-ending drug war. As long as marijuana 
distribution remains in the hands of organized crime, consumers will 
continue to come into contact with sellers of hard drugs.

This "gateway" is the direct result of a fundamentally flawed policy.

Given that marijuana is arguably safer than legal alcohol -- the plant has 
never been shown to cause an overdose death -- it makes no sense to waste 
tax dollars on failed policies that finance organized crime and facilitate 
the use of hard drugs.

Drug policy reform may send the wrong message to children, but I like to 
think the children are more important than the message.

Robert Sharpe / Policy analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy; Washington, D.C.
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