Pubdate: Fri, 09 Apr 2010
Source: Albany Democrat-Herald (OR)
Copyright: 2010 Lee Enterprises
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/HPOp5PfB
Website: http://www.democratherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/7
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n242/a05.html
Author: Stan White

SOME BACKWARDS THINKING

The Democrat-Herald's editorial displays some backwards thinking 
(Legalization wouldn't end narcotics wars, April 3, 2010). Murder 
rates decreased for 10 years after ending the original prohibition 
with alcohol and there's reason to believe ending the sequel will 
have the same results.

The logic of blaming "deadly violence down south" on citizens who use 
"controlled substances" is interesting since the reason violence 
exists is due to the reality that those very substances are in fact 
not regulated and controlled.

Further, government statistics indicate 60 percent or more of the 
cartel business involves the relatively safe, God-given plant 
cannabis, which should never have been prohibited to begin with and 
should immediately be RE-legalized. Whether or not RE-legalizing 
cannabis ends the violence in Mexico is irrelevant; it's simply the 
right thing to do.

Stan White, Dillon, Colo.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart