Pubdate: Sun, 03 Jan 2016
Source: Washington Post (DC)
Copyright: 2016 The Washington Post Company
Contact:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/491
Author: Lawrence Schwartz
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v15/n729/a05.html

STOPPING ILLEGAL DRUG USE ISN'T SO EASY

Danielle Allen argued that the successful anti-tobacco approach would 
solve the illicit drug problem. I amnot convinced.

Legalizing and controlling marijuana for recreational use follows the 
tobacco model. But in states that have legalized marijuana, 
businesses promote marijuana, and thatmay increase its use rather 
than reduce it.

Decriminalizing hard drugs such as heroin and cocaine is useful but 
falls short of solving this problem. On the positive side, it would 
help addicts get treatment rather than jail time. But Ms. Allen 
assumed that such treatment programs would dry up the demand for hard 
drugs. This may not be the case with new addicts coming along, 
despite antidrug campaigns.

The demand for illicit drugs is stable, as is the supply. Illicit 
drug cartels make sure that the supply is just adequate to keep the 
price stable. And law enforcement agencies have only interdicted 
about 10 percent of these illicit drugs since 1971, when President 
Nixon declared the war on drugs.

Lawrence Schwartz, Fairfax
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom