Pubdate: Fri, 19 Jun 2009
Source: DrugSense Weekly (DSW)
Website: http://www.drugsense.org

LETTER OF THE WEEK

DRUG WAR IN U.S. WAGED WITH FANFARE, BUT NO VICTORY IN SIGHT

By Walter Hoffman

For some four decades or more the federal government has been waging 
a "war" on narcotic drugs.  Presidents have come and gone, all 
swearing to control the use of such drugs and appoint drug czars with 
great fanfare to wage this "war," only to have such czars fade away 
into oblivion without victory in sight. During this time our prisons 
have become filled to overflowing with minor drug dealers and users; 
entire nations have become narco-states in order to supply the 
world's demand for these drugs; and we are spending $40 billion 
annually on trying to control this supply ( The Economist, March 7). 
All with what result?

Today, our neighbor to the south, Mexico, is becoming a narco-state, 
with the drug cartels controlling much of the law enforcement, 
judicial and the political bodies of the state; the tentacles of 
these cartels are now reaching into the United States where they 
control the drug traffic and are certainly suborning many of our law 
enforcement officials; drugs may be purchased at many street corners 
throughout our nation; the Taliban in Afghanistan is financed by the 
opium trade in their war against us; and we continue to spend 
millions of dollars without any hope of overcoming this problem. The solution?

Legalize these controlled substances and establish government 
operated stores to dispense retail amounts of these drugs at prices 
that would damp down their use while discouraging a black market. 
Such a move would not only put the drug lords out of business but 
also transform drugs from a law and order problem into a public 
health problem.  Proceeds from the sale of these drugs would be used 
to educate the public.

Walter Hoffman

Polk City

Pubdate: Wed, 10 Jun 2009

Source: Ledger, The (Lakeland, FL) 
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