Pubdate: Wed, 19 May 2010
Source: News Journal, The (Wilmington, DE)
Copyright: 2010 The News Journal
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/1c6Xgdq3
Website: http://www.delawareonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/822
Author: David C. Martin

WAR ON DRUGS HAS GONE ON FOR TOO LONG, COSTS TOO MUCH

Forty years, $1 trillion and nothing to show for it. It's obvious the 
federal government's war on drugs has been, and continues to be, an 
abysmal failure. Martha Mendoza's article on May 14 hit the nail on the head.

The contradiction of governmental thinking, "It's not working. Do it 
more," defies reason. This is especially true with the illegality of 
marijuana. The fact that people are prosecuted and imprisoned for 
marijuana possession, while alcohol remains legal, is the height of absurdity.

America's war on drugs is a lost cause. We need to reevaluate our 
drug laws. Some 1.5 million Americans are arrested for drug 
possession every year. Our prisons are filled with nonviolent drug 
offenders being housed with hardened criminals. The legalization of 
marijuana and the decriminalization of other drugs will free police 
and prosecutors to concentrate on more serious crimes. It is not 
government's place to intrude into the lives of private citizens, 
especially when those citizens do not pose a threat to themselves or others.

Instead of spending $15 billion to $20 billion a year fighting drug 
consumption, taxing marijuana consumption would add more than that 
amount to the treasury's coffers.

David C. Martin, Wilmington
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