Pubdate: Tue, 02 Apr 2013
Source: Corvallis Gazette-Times (OR)
Copyright: 2013 Lee Enterprises
Contact: https://gazettetimes-dot-com.bloxcms.com/app/forms/contact/letters/
Website: http://www.gazettetimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2976
Author: Molly Hannah

LEGALIZE DRUGS, AND YOU WON'T NEED A NEW BENTON COUNTY JAIL

No, Benton County does not need
a new jail. Health care for all, better funding for the library and
for schools, more food security, yes, but a new jail, no.

The majority of people incarcerated by Benton County are there for
drug crimes, so the answer is to legalize drugs. Prohibition did not
work for alcohol, and it does not work for drugs.

During Prohibition, crime surrounding alcohol sales was rampant as the
price of alcohol rose, and only criminals would dare sell it.

The war on drugs has similarly created rampant crime by making the
profit for drug sales so very great. Legalize drugs, and the incentive
to crime drops dramatically.

The regulated sale of drugs in a legal, ordinary store at reasonable
prices would take away the need for addicts to steal and burglarize to
support their habit, and take away the incentive for disadvantaged
young men to enter a life of crime via selling drugs.

The money saved by ending the war on drugs by cities, counties, states
and the federal government would be great enough to provide drug
treatment centers, education and disincentives and have plenty left
over to fund the programs that really benefit society.

No, we don't need a new jail; we need to legalize drugs.

Molly Hannah, Corvallis
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