Pubdate: Mon, 25 Jun 2001
Source: Daily Iowan, The (IA Edu)
Copyright: 2001 The Daily Iowan
Contact:  http://www.dailyiowan.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/937
Author: Robert Sharpe
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

POT LETTER

James Eaves-Johnson's June 20 column on drug-policy reform progress 
in Europe and Canada was excellent. Organized crime is no doubt very 
pleased with the "tough on drugs" stance of the U.S. government. 
Tough drug laws give rise to a lucrative black market in illegal 
drugs, effectively subsidizing organized crime.

The crime, corruption, and overdose deaths attributed to drugs are 
all direct results of drug prohibition. With alcohol prohibition 
repealed, liquor producers no longer gun each down in drive-by 
shootings, nor do consumers go blind drinking unregulated bathtub 
gin. There are cost-effective alternatives to a never ending drug war.

In Europe, the Netherlands has successfully reduced overall drug use 
by replacing marijuana prohibition with regulation. Dutch rates of 
drug use are significantly lower than U.S. rates in every category. 
Separating the hard and soft drug markets and establishing age 
controls for marijuana has proven more effective than zero tolerance. 
In the United States, illegal marijuana provides the black-market 
contacts that introduce users to drugs such as meth. This "gateway" 
is the direct result of a fundamentally flawed policy.

Given that marijuana is arguably safer than legal alcohol -- the 
plant has never been shown to cause an overdose death -- it makes no 
sense to waste tax dollars on failed policies that finance organized 
crime and facilitate the use of hard drugs.

Drug policy reform may send the wrong message to children, but I like 
to think the children themselves are more important than the message. 
Opportunistic "tough on drugs" politicians would no doubt disagree. 
Students who want to make a difference should contact Students for 
Sensible Drug Policy at http://www.ssdp.org.

Robert Sharpe
The Lindesmith Center-Drug Policy Foundation
Washington, D.C., resident
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MAP posted-by: Josh Sutcliffe