Pubdate: Tue, 27 Jun 2006 Source: Post and Courier, The (Charleston, SC) Copyright: 2006 Evening Post Publishing Co. Contact: http://www.charleston.net/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/567 Note: Rarely prints LTEs received from outside its circulation area Author: Jeff Adkins Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n697/a03.html?229331 DRUG WAR FAILURE A new issue has appeared lately in The Post and Courier op-ed pages: the "War on Drugs." There are strong feelings on both sides, and it's about time we had a thorough debate about what remains a huge feature of American policy. In 1971, President Richard Nixon coined the term, "War on Drugs," and since then the American government has failed to put a dent in the demand for illicit substances, let alone eliminate them. History proves the supply will always be there to meet demand. Terrorist groups such as the Taliban in Afghanistan and the FARC in Colombia have financed themselves with drug money, all made possible because drugs are illegal and unregulated. If certain drugs were decriminalized, the need for a black market would disappear and the streams of revenue for these terrible people would evaporate. Why buy from murderous Colombian drug lords when safer, legal options are available? The most shameful aspect of this endless "War on Drugs" is the targeting of marijuana. While the authorities might have you believe otherwise, marijuana is far less harmful than harder drugs such as heroin and crystal meth. It has a much smaller capacity to destroy one's health and one's life. Yet the federal government spends $10 billion a year arresting more than 700,000 Americans for using marijuana - a victimless crime. Don't we have a national border all these narcotics officers could be defending? No one is arguing on behalf of drugs. Most reasonable people can agree that these substances cause serious harm to individuals and are a blight. The question is the role of the government. After 35 years of "war," I think it is clear that our drug laws are responsible for much more crime, violence and personal destruction than the substances themselves. JEFF ADKINS Mount Pleasant - --- MAP posted-by: Steve Heath