Pubdate: Fri, 06 Apr 2007
Source: Daily Herald, The (Provo, UT)
Copyright: 2007 The Daily Herald
Contact:  http://www.heraldextra.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1480
Author: Kirk Muse

LEGALIZING DRUGS A WAY TO REDUCE CRIME, EXPENSES

Suppose that all types of recreational drugs were re-legalized and the
drug were legally sold in local licensed business establishments for
pennies per dose.

Would this solve your drug problems? No.

It would however, greatly reduce your violent and property crime. Many
judges and prison wardens have said that 70 to 80 percent of all
property crime and violent crime is drug-related. Actually, almost 100
percent of all so-called "drug-related crime" is caused by drug
prohibition policies, not drugs.

When Coca-Cola contained cocaine instead of caffeine and sold for 5
cents a bottle, the term "drug-related crime" didn't exist. Neither
did drug lords, drug cartels or even drug dealers as we know them today.

Many currently employed in law enforcement are opposed to the idea of
legalizing all types of recreational drugs. That's because if drugs
were legalized, we would need far fewer law enforcement personnel, far
fewer prison guards and no prison builders. Thus, many now employed in
law enforcement and the prison industry would be looking for jobs.

KIRK MUSE

Mesa, Ariz.
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MAP posted-by: Steve Heath