Pubdate: Sun, 15 Sep 2013
Source: La Crosse Tribune (WI)
Contact: http://www.lacrossetribune.com/app/forms/sendletter/
Copyright: 2013 The La Crosse Tribune
Website: http://www.lacrossetribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/229

POLICE GENERALLY OPPOSED TO LEGALIZED POT

Members of law enforcement are among the biggest
opponents of marijuana legalization, citing
concerns over potential increases in impaired
driving, the potential for marijuana to fall into
the hands of children and the drug's reputation
as a =93gateway=94 to other harmful substances.

The La Crosse Police Department declined to
comment on the impact of medical marijuana
legalization, but Wisconsin Attorney General J.B.
Van Hollen came out in opposition to a previous
legalization bill in 2009, writing that it would
=93create serious impediments to the enforcement of
state drug laws against those individuals who are
not actually involved in the medical use of marijuana.=94

But some in law enforcement believe that
legalizing marijuana will have the opposite
effect. Jim Gierach, who was born in Wisconsin
and served as a drug and homicide prosecutor in
Chicago during the 1970s, is an outspoken
legalization advocate and a member of the
international advocacy group LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition).

He began his career as one of the most ardent
supporters of the war on drugs, but now believes
that drug prohibition is actually fueling the
problem after observing the carnage of
drug-related turf wars and crimes committed by addicts.

=93Here's the interesting thing about drug policy =AD
everything works in reverse,=94 he said. =93If
something sounds like it's a sensible solution to
reduce drug use, don't do it.=94

Drug prohibition doesn't prevent people from
obtaining drugs, he said, but ending drug
prohibition would reduce violence, prison
populations and the cost of prosecuting drug-related crimes.

Drug war supporters want to keep the price of
drugs high to make them unaffordable, but that's
what makes the illicit drug trade so profitable,
he said. Police destroy drugs they seize in a
raid, but by decreasing supply, the demand only grows.

=93Drug cartels are in favor of the prohibition of
drugs just like Al Capone was in favor of the
prohibition of liquor,=94 Gierach said. =93Why should
the good guys be on their side?=94
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom