Pubdate: Fri, 08 Jul 2011 Source: Shelby Star, The (NC) Copyright: 2011 The Shelby Star Contact: http://www.shelbystar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1722 Author; Alicia Banks LEGALIZE IT? COUNTY COPS CHIME IN ON WAR ON DRUGS The Star asked our Facebook fans to chime in on the war on drugs. Should marijuana be-come legal? What do you think? Find 'The Shelby Star' on Facebook, click 'like, and join in on this and other conversations. If done correctly this could be a brilliant way to help the economy. Crystal Buff Make it legal and tax the crap out of it! Sharon Ervin Hawkins It will create a much-needed relief on the courts and prisons. Legalize it already. Regulate it like cigarettes and alcohol. Kimber Lail-Caldwell Legalize it, tax it and let the states make some money on it. Gary N. Lee It would be easier to keep it away from kids if it were legal and sold like alcohol. Drug dealers don't card for age. Also, we could tax it, clear up the court and prisons and hurt the drug cartels. Mike Bolin Can you say "cash crop"? Jennifer Towery Hubbard * Photo slideshow: A look at the global war on drugs Some call it a weed. Scientists call it cannabis. Law enforcement officers call marijuana the gateway drug that opens the door for users to try cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine. Could marijuana become one of the first illegal drugs to become legal? Some prominent world leaders say it should. A recent report by the Global Commission on Drug Policy advises governments to consider legalizing some controlled substances, including marijuana. The commission includes a former U.S. secretary of state and former Mexican and Colombian presidents. The report was released in June. The global war on drugs has failed, with devastating consequences for individuals and societies around the world," begins the report. The commission asks for governments to experiment with models of legal drug regulation to weaken organized crime and keep citizens safe. Makes drugs more available Shelby Police Lt. Shannon Price said marijuana is the mildest drug compared to heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine. He disagrees with the commission's stance. I don't see how that can help the problem," Price said. "It makes the drugs more available." Rehab locations face many problems, he explained, including a lack of facilities, not enough funding or insurance failing to cover the cost of a user who needs help. The commission's report does suggest offering more health and treatment services to drug users in need. It discourages punishing users with "abusive practices" such as forced detention and labor. Sheriff Alan Norman, and a father of two teenagers, agrees with Price. He said when money isn't enough, some users turn to illegal activity to fund their habit. We're mandated to enforce those laws until the U.S. government or state sees otherwise," Norman said. Reach reporter Alicia Banks at 704-669-3338. United Nations estimates of annual drug consumption, 1998 to 2008 1998 2008 Percent change Opiates 12.9 million 17.35 million 34.5+ Cocaine 13.4 million 17 million 27+ Cannabis 147.4 million 160 million 8.5+ *Source: Global Commission on Drug Policy - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart