Pubdate: Thu, 24 Dec 2015
Source: Detroit News (MI)
Copyright: 2015 The Detroit News
Contact:  http://www.detroitnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/126
Author: Ted Nelson

TIME TO RETHINK DRUG ENFORCEMENT

Re: The Detroit News' Dec 12 story, "FBI agent shot in Detroit drug 
raid": We seem to hear stories like this one about the enormous drug 
bust and injured FBI agent so often that it makes you wonder whether 
police officers really still believe we're making a dent in the drug market.

It makes you wonder whether it's even worth it, considering a veteran 
officer was shot during this big drug bust.

Officers are hurt and killed in the line of duty, and we can do 
something about it.

Drugs are plentiful and ravaging poor communities with addiction, 
disease, and gang violence. We can do something about that, too.

Ending drug prohibition is the biggest solution to our nation's drug problems.

If we treat addiction as a health issue and send people to effective 
and affordable treatment, if we redirect our police officers back to 
solving crimes instead of arresting drug users, and if we regulate 
drugs so that sellers are taxed and controlled and prevented from 
selling to children, we can all live in safer and more peaceful neighborhoods.

As a retired Michigan State Trooper, I know that drugs are too 
dangerous to be left in the hands of criminals and our current 
enforcement strategy has failed.

Ted Nelson, Howard City
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom