Pubdate: Wed, 13 Sep 2006
Source: Orlando Sentinel (FL)
Copyright: 2006 Orlando Sentinel
Contact:  http://www.orlandosentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/325
Note: Rarely prints out-of-state LTEs.
Author: Choice Edwards
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

DRUG STATUS

In his Sept. 4 letter to the editor, "Forgotten topic," Russell 
Hebert called attention to this nation's so-called war on drugs. 
Unquestionably, we are losing this war. Hebert called attention to 
crime, deaths and the drain on law-enforcement resources. What he did 
not mention is that the abuse of alcohol causes more crime and death 
than the abuse of illegal drugs.

When I served as one of the non-addicted members of the board of the 
Greater Indianapolis Council on Alcoholism, my eyes were opened to 
the sobering fact that alcohol is legally available at just about 
every convenience, drug and grocery store in America.

This nation tried to outlaw alcohol once, and it failed. We need 
seriously to consider decriminalizing drugs that are illegal simply 
because some legislative bodies decided so.

When we come to our senses and assign heretofore illegal drugs the 
same status as drugs pushed by the politically well-connected 
pharmaceutical giants, distilleries, wineries and breweries, we will 
see a conforming decline in the incarceration of our young people and 
a corresponding decline in unwarranted police activity to put them there.

Consuming too much of just about anything is unwise, whether it be 
aspirin or Budweiser. Because we have made certain things produced 
either by Mother Nature or chemistry illegal, we have overcrowded jails.

Let's stop squandering our law-enforcement resources on Rush 
Limbaugh, Sally with glaucoma or Pee Wee the dope dealer.

Choice Edwards

Clermont
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman