Pubdate: Fri, 27 Jul 2001
Source: Washington Times (DC)
Copyright: 2001 News World Communications, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.washtimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/492
Author: Robert Sharpe, Program officer The Lindesmith Center-Drug Policy 
Foundation Washington
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n1338/a03.html

INCREASED FUNDING FOR DRUG WAR ENSURES ITS LONGEVITY IN SOUTH AMERICA

The White House proposal to add $676 million in counternarcotics aid for 
South America to the Clinton administration's $1.3 billion Plan Colombia is 
a prime example of big government throwing good money after bad ("Lawmakers 
wary of involving U.S. in Colombia, Peru," Nation, July 24). The additional 
funds will not negate the immutable laws of supply and demand that drive 
illegal drug production. A crackdown in one region leads to increased 
cultivation elsewhere. When faced with the choice of abject poverty and the 
inflated black-market profits of illicit crops, many farmers will choose 
the latter. Creating a global welfare state in which every developing 
country is paid not to grow illicit crops is a rather expensive proposition.

The various armed factions in Colombia that are tearing the country apart 
are dependent financially on profits created by America's never-ending drug 
war. While U.S. politicians continue to use the drug war's collateral 
damage to justify its intensification at home and abroad, European 
countries are embracing "harm reduction." Harm reduction is based on the 
principle that both drugs and drug laws have the potential to cause harm. 
Given the historical precedent in America's disastrous experiment with 
alcohol prohibition, harm reduction should be understood readily by 
Congress. Ironically, fear of appearing "soft on crime" compels many 
politicians to support a punitive drug policy that fuels organized crime 
and violence.

ROBERT SHARPE Program officer The Lindesmith Center-Drug Policy Foundation 
Washington
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom