Pubdate: Fri, 02 Mar 2007
Source: Anderson Independent-Mail (SC)
Copyright: 2007 Independent Publishing Company, a division of E.W. Scripps
Contact:  http://www.independentmail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2256
Author: Bill Smith
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

WAR ON DRUGS A LOSING BATTLE

The war on drugs has been futile and costly. The cost in dollars is 
staggering. The costs of incarceration, personal freedom and liberty 
are intolerable. The violence and death to innocents caught in the 
crossfire are immoral.

Clearly the strategy used over the past 40 years is a complete 
failure. There are intelligent people in the medical field who could 
really make a difference if they could only be listened to and taken seriously.

Dangerous drugs such as crystal meth could be almost completely 
eradicated if not for the greed of pharmaceutical companies that ship 
over twice the amount of ingredients needed to make cold remedies to 
Mexico and all the outlets that refuse to monitor their sale in America.

Two very legal drugs, alcohol and tobacco, are more dangerous and 
deadly than heroin, cocaine, and marijuana combined; but their 
legality has been bought and paid for by lobbyists in our corrupt 
political system.

Our president, no stranger to drug and alcohol abuse, is too stubborn 
and intolerant of other people's ideas to ever change course on a 
long-failed policy. Staying the course whether in a failed war in 
Iraq or a failed war on drugs is not courageous, patriotic or 
intelligent. Sometimes you must change course in order to find what works best.

Bill Smith

Due West
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman