Pubdate: Fri, 24 Mar 2006
Source: Wall Street Journal (US)
Page: A11
Copyright: 2006 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.wsj.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/487
Author: Ralph Witherell
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n321/a05.html

UTOPIA BEYOND REACH -- BUT WE CAN DO BETTER

John Walters's March 16 Letter to the Editor "Utopia of Legalized
Drugs Is a Delusion" does nothing but reiterate the tired arguments of
the failed drug warriors. His first point, that "there is no realistic
alternative to the fight," is nonsense -- I'm sure there also were
zealots who thought there was no alternative to the prohibition of
alcohol.

His second point, that "trafficking and use would be less risky" under
legalization doesn't make any sense. Trafficking would become a
taxable industry called "distribution." Use would be use, just as it
is now. Why not make it less risky to possess and use something in a
legal fashion that people are going to do anyway? Why have prisons
stuffed with people, ruining lives and families for a failed cause?

Finally, his point that "prohibition is not futile," using Colombia as
an example, has been proven false twice in this country in the past
100 years. And Colombia as an example of our success and the rule of
law? Colombia has essentially been at civil war for the past 30 years
because of our war against drugs, not to mention the growing security
threat posed by our lousy relations with all of South America, which
seems to tie directly into our failed drug policies.

Ralph Witherell

Orinda, Calif.
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