Pubdate: Wed, 24 Jan 2001
Source: Palm Beach Post (FL)
Copyright: 2001 The Palm Beach Post
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Author: Steve Ellman

DEFENSE OF DRUG POLICY SITS ON SHAKY GROUND

In the Jan. 14 Opinion article "Hello, My name is 'Traffic,' " Paul Reid 
attacks the new Steven Soderbergh film Traffic and its critical assessment 
of U.S. drug policy by saying that the film is flawed because it violates 
the "rules of engagement in the commentary business." If those "rules" 
include the introduction of supporting evidence, Mr. Reid's own commentary 
falls short. All he can marshal in support of the drug war is the 
(unsupported) assertion of one former Drug Enforcement Administration agent 
(hardly an unbiased source) that "any interception" of imported drugs 
qualifies as success. Could we set the bar any lower? He asserts that 
"international chaos" will follow "if we let criminals and narco-terrorists 
take over the governments of our Latin American neighbors." It is the war 
on drugs that props up such regimes.

Criminalizing drugs and attempting to choke off supply only drives prices 
up, luring more suppliers into the business. Decriminalization would allow 
us to focus on a rational response, like harm reduction.

STEVE ELLMAN

West Palm Beach
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