Pubdate: Wed, 07 Mar 2012
Source: Miami Herald (FL)
Copyright: 2012 Miami Herald Media Co.
Contact:  http://www.miamiherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/262

NOT THE TIME

Legalizing Illicit Drugs Remains A Bad Idea

Vice President Joe Biden delivered a needed message this week to
Central American leaders thinking about drug legalization: Forget
about it.

Mr. Biden diplomatically left the door open to a "legitimate"
discussion of the issue, but he made it clear the United States
believes legalization remains a terrible idea. It creates more
problems than solutions, more questions than answers.

Who would be allowed to have drugs? Under what terms? At what age?

Who decides?

Who would become the distributor - i.e., drug-pusher - the state?
(Think of the opportunities for corruption.)

What kind of message would all this send to the nation's young people?

Countries that have tried legalization or decriminalization have seen
an increase in the population that consumes illegal substances. It
doesn't eliminate the black market for harder drugs. It doesn't put an
end to drug gangsters. It doesn't get rid of enforcement issues.

Floating the idea of legalization is not a strategy. It's a desperate
cry for help by leaders who have seen drug-inspired violence ravage
their countries. Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala have gotten the
worst of it, with the murder rate in Honduras climbing to the highest
in the world.

The United States must continue to help them by focusing on drug
prevention, treatment and effective law enforcement - not surrender.