Pubdate: Wed, 06 Sep 2006 Source: Contra Costa Times (CA) Copyright: 2006 Knight Ridder Contact: http://www.contracostatimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/96 Author: Patrick Robbins WAR ON DRUGS IS A DISMAL, COSTLY FAILURE The war on drugs is a dismal failure that's costing billions of dollars and ruining countless lives. At the turn of the century, their were no illegal drugs in America. Cocaine and heroin were available through the Sears catalog. Every city had a few opium dens, and yes, there were addicts and deaths, but there was little or no crime from these drugs. The crime, cartels and exploding prison populations came as a direct result from the laws that made these substances illegal. Like the prohibition of alcohol that brought gangs and public shootouts to our streets, the war on drugs is misguided legislation. Now, I don't propose that we sell drugs at the corner grocery store, but we should allow doctors to prescribe them to addicts. Then we will free up valuable prison space and law enforcement personnel to deal with violent crime and the terrorism that is gripping our country. Unfortunately it takes an act of congress to change this, but it is possible. Who is against this? Law enforcement, the liquor industry and organized crime. Makes you think doesn't it? Patrick Robbins Concord - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom