Pubdate: Wed, 06 Dec 2000
Source: Columbus Dispatch (OH)
Copyright: 2000, The Columbus Dispatch
Contact:  34 S. Third St., Columbus, OH 43215
Website: http://www.dispatch.com/
Author: Robert Sharpe
Note: Robert Sharpe is the program officer, Lindesmith Center Drug Policy 
Foundation, Washington

SUPPORTING DRUG WAR IS SUPPORTING A FAILURE

It's a shame that any politician who dares question the wisdom of the 
failed drug war is penalized for doing so. If former candidate for Franklin 
County commissioner Bill Schuck cared about protecting children from drugs, 
he would not have been so quick to label his opponent, Mary Jo Kilroy, as a 
dangerous legalizer for advocating marijuana decriminalization.

The reason is simple: Leaving the distribution of popular recreational 
drugs in the hands of organized crime puts children at great risk. Unlike 
legitimate businesses that sell liquor, illegal drug dealers working the 
black market do not ask for identification for age, but they do push 
profitable, addictive drugs, including heroin, when given the chance.

Drug policies designed to protect children have given rise to a 
youth-oriented black market, in which illicit drugs are readily available, 
despite their illegality.

Sensible regulation is desperately needed to undermine the black market and 
restrict access to drugs. Marijuana is the most popular illicit drug. 
Compared with legal drugs, such as alcohol and tobacco, marijuana is 
relatively harmless. Yet, marijuana prohibition is deadly. While nothing 
inherent in marijuana compels users to try harder drugs, its black-market 
status puts users in contact with criminals who push them.

Current drug policy is effectively a gateway policy. As counterintuitive as 
it may seem, replacing marijuana prohibition with regulation would do a 
better job protecting children from drugs than the failed drug war.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart