Pubdate: Fri, 09 Mar 2007
Source: Daily Journal, The (MN)
Copyright: 2007 Fergus Falls Newspapers Inc
Contact:  http://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2568
Author: Kirk Muse
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

LEGALIZING SOME DRUGS WOULD CLOSE GATEWAY

I'm writing about John Holley's letter: "Drug legalization was 
candidate's undoing, with just cause" (March 6, 2007).

If tough-on-drugs policies worked, the idealistic goal of a drug-free 
America would have been reached a long time ago.

And if tolerant drug policies created more drug use, the Netherlands 
would have much higher drug usage rates than the United States.

They do not.

In fact, the Dutch use marijuana and other recreational drugs at much 
lower rates than Americans do.

And if tolerant drug policies caused more overall crime, especially 
violent crime, the Dutch would have much higher crime rates than the 
United States.

They do not.

The Dutch murder rate is less than one-third the U.S. per capita 
rate, and their rate of incarceration is about one-seventh the U. S. rate.

In the Netherlands, marijuana is sold to adults without criminal 
sanctions in coffee shops.

In the United States, marijuana is sold by criminals who often sell 
other, much more dangerous drugs and who often offer free samples of 
the more dangerous drugs to their marijuana customers -- thus 
creating the gateway effect.

Re-legalize, regulate and control the sale of marijuana, and we close 
the gateway.

Re-legalize all types of recreational drugs and sell them in licensed 
business establishments, and we will make the term "drug-related 
crime" obsolete.

Kirk Muse

Mesa, Ariz.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman