Pubdate: Fri, 10 Aug 2001 Source: Salt Lake Tribune (UT) Copyright: 2001 The Salt Lake Tribune Contact: http://www.sltrib.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/383 Author: Michael Greene WRONG DRUG WAR ONUS In response to James V. Roach's comments ("Fruitless Drug War" Forum, July 24), I completely agree that the tragic and pointless death of Roosevelt Police Chief Cecil Gurr is another sad part of prohibitionist drug policies. Current drug policies do not adequately address the violence and addiction problems associated with the illegal drug market. And they never will. As long as the solution criminalizes users, crime will be a fundamental element of the use of an illegal drug. Even an otherwise law-abiding citizen becomes a criminal merely by using marijuana, a drug many health experts and government studies have determined to be far less dangerous than the penalties for its used demand. However, Chief Gurr was killed while performing the duties that his position demanded. For that he deserves only the highest praise. Mr. Roach states that, " . . . Utah's finest are unabashedly continuing this idiocy by declaring prohibition to be our No. 1 solution." He misses the fact that, under current policy, prohibition is law enforcement's only solution to illegal drug use. It isn't law enforcement that needs to " . . . consider looking at [the drug problem] from the perspective of a public health issue . . ." It is our policy-makers and, ultimately, the public that must change perspective. Our policy-makers and the public need to understand that there is a vast difference between the use of a drug and criminal act done under the influence of that drug, whether it be alcohol, tobacco or methamphetamine. If there is ever going to be more effective policy that deals with the problems of illegal drug use then it is the responsibility of each individual to work toward that goal. MICHAEL GREENE, Salt Lake City - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D