Pubdate: Mon, 26 Jun 2000
Source: San Diego Union Tribune (CA)
Copyright: 2000 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.
Contact:  PO Box 120191, San Diego, CA, 92112-0191
Fax: (619) 293-1440
Website: http://www.uniontrib.com/
Forum: http://www.uniontrib.com/cgi-bin/WebX
Author: Michael Stewart
Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n857/a06.html

ONLY LEGALIZATION CAN HALT THE DRUG TRADE

Re: "Message for Colombia: No one is safe" (Opinion, June 22):

Despite the $1.6 billion in U.S. aid just earmarked for fighting drugs in 
Colombia, there is only one thing that terrifies those involved in the drug 
trade: legalization.

By legalizing drugs, the money associated with illegal drugs would dry up. 
And once the money dried up, the powerful drug lords that control Colombia 
would go back to picking coffee beans.

That $1.6 billion would be far better spent setting up treatment centers 
for those who will get addicted to drugs no matter how stiff the penalties 
for usage become.

Michael Stewart, San Diego
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D