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