Pubdate: Thu, 18 Aug 2011
Source: Lexington Herald-Leader (KY)
Copyright: 2011 Lexington Herald-Leader
Contact: http://www.kentucky.com/369/
Website: http://www.kentucky.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/240
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n494/a08.html

DRUG POLICY FAILS

Regarding W. Bryan Hubbard's Aug. 1 op-ed, the steady rise in 
drug-sniffing dogs in schools, warrantless police searches, and 
random drug testing have led to a loss of civil liberties while 
failing miserably at preventing drug use. With national debt soaring, 
we can no longer afford to throw good money at bad drug policy.

Based on findings that criminal records are inappropriate as health 
interventions and ineffective as deterrents, a majority of European 
Union countries have decriminalized marijuana. Despite marijuana 
prohibition, lifetime use of marijuana is higher in the United States 
than any European country.

The drug war threatens the integrity of a country founded on the 
concept of limited government. It's not possible to wage a moralistic 
war against consensual vices unless privacy is completely eliminated, 
along with the U.S. Constitution. America can either be a free 
country or a "drug-free" country, but not both.

Robert Sharpe Common Sense for Drug Policy policy analyst Arlington, Va.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom