Pubdate: Fri, 26 Dec 2014
Source: Star-News (Wilmington, NC)
Copyright: 2014 Wilmington Morning Star
Contact: http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/submit01
Website: http://www.starnewsonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/500
Author: Paul Denny

DECRIMINALIZE DRUGS

Poor, miserable, depressed people take drugs. That's the way it 
always has been and that's the way it always will be. It's a fact of 
modern life. Our solution to this situation is a "war on drugs." The 
reality is that it's not a war on drugs, it's a war against people. 
There is no doubt that the government has the right and obligation to 
regulate the sales of addictive, destructive and deadly substances. 
However, it should not come as a surprise that people will possess 
these substances regardless of sales regulations. It should not be a 
crime. By eliminating "possession" laws, the biggest point of 
contention between citizens and the police would be effectively 
removed. It really is nobody's business what "substance" an otherwise 
law-abiding citizen may have in their possession, even to the police. 
The police should really have no business searching people's bodies 
and effects for these substances. It's ludicrous, it's ridiculous, 
and it is certainly unfair to the downtrodden in our society. ... 
Give the police a break. Let's stop tasking them with enforcing 
ridiculous laws and fighting our drug war. It's not fair to them or 
to the people.

Paul Denny, Leland
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom