Pubdate: Thu, 28 Feb 2008 Source: Blue & White Flash, The (MS Edu) Copyright: 2008 The Blue & White Flash Contact: http://www.jsuflash.com/home/lettertotheeditor/ Website: http://www.jsuflash.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2862 Author: Brandon Coffey Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) L.E.A.P. SUPPORTS DRUG LEGALIZATION The slogan for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition is "COPS SAY LEGALIZE DRUGS ASK US WHY!" This non-profit organization was founded by Jack Cole, a former New Jersey Detective and is comprised of former police officers and government officials. The Criminal Justice Department of Jackson State University sponsored an event involving L.E.A.P called Winning the War on Drugs: Prohibition or Legalization, hosted by Department of Criminal Justice Chair, Dr. Thomas Calhoun on Feb. 21 in room 266 of the Dollye M.E. Robinson Liberal Arts Building. During the informational lecture, there were different respected speakers on the subject names like former United States Attorney Brad Piggot, Robert Walker, special assistant to Mayor Frank Melton of Jackson, Miss. and Jim Gierach a retired attorney and homicide prosecutor. Piggot was once a United States Attorney appointed to his position by former president Bill Clinton and his feelings are that the war on drugs is one that the United States will not win. Piggot said, "Using the phrase winning the war on drugs is a little confusing to American citizens because we are used to winning wars, and this war has to be won within the home before it can be won on the battlefield of the streets." This statement puts the majority of the blame for America's drug problem into the hands rightful owners, the parents who are leading their kids to a life of drugs, according to Piggot. "Parents in this day and age are doing a terrible job of child rendering, there is not enough effort to tell our children not to use drugs and communicate the evils of drugs," Piggot continued. Jim Gierach a Retired Attorney and Homicide prosecutor for over 30 years in Cook County, Chicago has the sentiments that are close to Piggot. Gierach said "The war on drugs is unwinnable because it fuels entire communities off the money from drugs. To legalize drugs would stop the creation of underground systems because if it was legal it would be easier to eliminate the dealing because of the supply and demand factor." There is a demand for drug legalization because it will a give a sense of hope on stopping the war on drugs, according to leap.cc. Also the legalization of drugs can help deserving people with the necessary medicine that is needed for people with AIDS and glaucoma, according to Gierach. "Marijuana can help with the cost of AIDS medicine because it is a natural remedy to apply the leaf to the skin, it also really help glaucoma patients as well because it helps to boost your sight. But we as a society outlaw these drugs that can actually help people in need," Girech continued. Since 70 percent of all crimes are in some way drug related, according to special assistant to the mayor Frank Melton of Jackson,Miss. Robert Walker, "drugs should be legalized in order to stop having to waste money building prisons when that money could go toward building schools around the world." Geirach said, "The sad thing about this situation is that the goal is to get drugs out of the prison but the prison is infected with more drugs than the streets." The L.E.A.P organization believes legalizing drugs is the best option to stop the war on drugs. To learn more about the drug legalization controversy go to http://leap.cc