Pubdate: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 Source: East Valley Tribune (AZ) Copyright: 2010 East Valley Tribune. Contact: http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/page/letter_to_the_editor Website: http://www.eastvalleytribune.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2708 Author: Kirk Muse LEGALIZATION IS BEST WAY I'm writing about Bill Richardson's column "Goddard fighting drug trafficking wisely" (Tribune, Feb. 19). The only way to effectively dismantle the Mexican drug cartels is the same way we dismantled the alcohol cartels in 1933. In 1994, Switzerland started an experimental program to sell heroin addicts heroin at very low cost or even give it to the addicts who couldn't afford it. In 2008, 68 percent of the Swiss voted to make the program permanent. Have Swiss heroin addiction rates skyrocketed? No, they have fallen. In 2001, Portugal abolished all criminal penalties for personal possession of all drugs. Have the rates of drug use and abuse skyrocketed in Portugal? No, they have fallen. So why do we continue with our failed drug policies? Other than because lots of people, organizations and industries have a vested financial interest in continuing the status quo of drug prohibition. Kirk Muse Mesa - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake