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DEALERS FINDING CREATIVE WAYS TO FLOUT DRUG LAWS

Drug traffickers always seem to find creative ways to skirt laws, no matter what new rules attempt to block their trade.  Two recent stories show just how difficult it is to legislate without new negative consequences. 

The Associated Press reported this week that electronic tracking of sales of cold medicine used to make methamphetamine has created a new criminal enterprise: "smurfing."

A middleman buys a box of pills for $7 to $8, then sells it to a meth maker for $40 to $50. 

Tracking laws started appearing on the books in 2006.  Initially, meth activity dropped, but it has started climbing again, according to the AP.  In 2009, it was up 62 percent over the previous two years. 

Meanwhile, importing meth from Mexico has grown, along with a new quick "shake and bake" process of cooking the drug. 

Another story in Colorado shows another example of drug dealer creativity.  On Jan.  7, the state announced an indictment against nine people accused of trying to use Colorado's medical marijuana industry as a cover for their illegal trade. 

They used photocopies of legitimate medical marijuana patient records as a guise for grow and sale operations, according to the attorney general's office. 

In this case, dealers attempted to use a new law to fuel their business. 

These stories illustrate just how the appetite for drugs controls users and thus the trade that supplies them. 

No law will be perfect as dealers will always find ways to keep themselves in business. 

We as a nation must continue to try to stop the pushers, but we should not believe in panaceas. 

Even more importantly, we need to get serious about addressing addiction in this nation. 

Without demand, there would be no supply.