Pubdate: Fri, 20 Jul 2012
Source: East Valley Tribune (AZ)
Copyright: 2012 East Valley Tribune.
Contact: http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/opinion/submit_a_letter/
Website: http://www.eastvalleytribune.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2708
Author: Kirk Muse
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n348/a09.html

HARD TIME SHOULD BE RESERVED FOR HARD CRIME

I'm writing about Bill Richardson's not-so-thoughtful column: 
"Targeting addicts the more effective way to reduce crime in our 
cities" (July 12). Even though caffeine is an addictive drug and 
potentially lethal in very high doses, we have absolutely no crime 
associated with it. Why? It's legal. Nicotine is a very addictive 
substance that is very deadly, yet we have almost no crime associated 
with it. Why? It's legal.

A couple of weeks ago, I watched one of the Lock Up series on MSNBC 
and they were doing a prison cell search in a California prison. They 
found among other things, a package of cigarettes. They mentioned 
that in California prisons cigarettes sell for $400 to $600 a pack. 
Why? Because inside California prisons cigarettes are illegal. By the 
way, inside California prisons cigarettes are controlled by prison gangs.

If meth addicts could buy a hit of meth for pennies per dose at any 
pharmacy would they need to rob or steal to pay for their habit? No.

Hard drug use is stupid. Stupidity should not be a crime that sends 
people to jail or prison. Our jails and prisons should be reserved 
for people who intentionally harm others against their will. Not 
gardeners. Not people who use, buy or sell to willing buyers 
unapproved substances.

Kirk Muse

Mesa
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