Pubdate: Mon, 24 Jul 2000
Source: Rutland Herald (VT)
Copyright: 2000 Rutland Herald
Address: P.O. Box 668, Rutland VT 05702-0668
Fax: (802) 775-2423
Feedback: http://rutlandherald.nybor.com/News/Opinion/Letters/
Website: http://www.rutlandherald.com/
Author: Douglas T. Acosta

CONSEQUENCES ARE DISASTROUS

The United States of America has lost the "war on drugs," failure to 
acknowledge that fact continues to have disastrous consequences. Prisons 
are overcrowded with people convicted of victimless crimes, a ridiculous 
oxymoron. Criminalization of drug use has encouraged, actually required, an 
increase of violent crime as users resort to robbery and burglary to 
finance expensive habits. Murder is inevitable as suppliers contend for the 
outrageously lucrative trade. And now the country has authorized the grant 
of $1.3 billion to Colombia to aid in their anti-drug efforts. But drug 
traffic is so lucrative that the dealers and suppliers can out spend and 
out arm any counter-forces as well as corrupt or terrify governments into 
inaction. The analogy with the prohibition of alcohol is obvious. The 18th 
Amendment to the Constitution established organized crime and created more 
efficient criminal systems. The amendment was repealed, but it legacy 
continues. Is it not logical to rethink a solution to the drug problem?

Legalization of narcotics would dispose of many serious problems; the price 
of drugs can be controlled, taking profit out of the trade and obviating 
much of the violent crime associated with drug traffic. Drugs could be made 
available by the government with strict controls much as alcohol is made 
available. Consequent release of the billions of dollars now devoted to the 
useless "war" could be used to establish sufficient clinics and treatment 
centers to serve users now wanting treatment and on long waiting lists. For 
those users who do not want to be cured of their addictions, nothing can be 
done by the government except to make their habit affordable and 
crime-free. Personal choice and personal behavior that does no harm to 
others cannot be legislated.

There may be possibly valid arguments against the legalization of drugs, 
but the issue should be debated and considered. The cost of our present 
course is ruinous both in terms of crime and budget.

Douglas T. Acosta, Brandon
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