Pubdate: Mon, 26 Dec 2005
Source: Asheville Citizen-Times (NC)
Copyright: 2005 Asheville Citizen-Times
Contact:  http://www.citizen-times.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/863
Author: Joseph Haley
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/carl+mumpower

DRUG WAR SHOULD BE HALTED SO REAL CRIME COULD BE TACKLED

Asheville Vice Mayor Carl Mumpower evidently does not believe the adage,
"Once bitten (Prohibition), twice shy (drug war)." He is fixated on the
impossible - preventing drug use. Proof? After nearly a quarter century
spending many billions and ruining millions of lives, the result is drugs -
easily available - are cheaper and stronger than ever. Mumpower probably isn
't insane, but one definition of insanity is doing the same thing
repeatedly - when it has failed repeatedly - and expecting success. The
reason for difficulty in stopping drug selling is the phenomenal amount of
money involved. Dealers often don't count their gains - simply weighing
bundles of cash.

The profits also demonstrate why catching "Mr. Big" doesn't help;
there are multitudes to replace him.

The solution is to remove the money by decriminalizing drugs for
adults (like alcohol now). Selling would still be illegal. Sell them
at their real cost; opium and coca are cheap to grow and marijuana
grows wild. Give them away; the cost would be an infinitesimal
percentage of the present expenditures.

A win-win situation; crime caused by needing to buy expensive drugs
would drop, addicts could be treated more easily and police could
concentrate on real concerns - murder, rape, DWI, etc.

Joseph Haley

Hendersonville
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin