Pubdate: Fri, 09 Nov 2001
Source: Daily Californian, The (CA Edu)
Copyright: 2001 The Daily Californian
Contact:  http://www.dailycal.org/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/597

MIDDLE-OF-THE-ROAD POLICY BELIEVED TO BE MOST EFFECTIVE FOR REDUCING DRUG 
PROBLEMS

Reducing drug use and drug-related problems will not be achieved by either 
fully legalizing drugs or by adopting a zero-tolerance policy, according to 
research by a UC Berkeley professor.

According to a new book by UC Berkeley public policy and law professor 
Robert MacCoun and University of Maryland professor Peter Reuter,a the 
solution to the nation's drug problem lies somewhere in the middle.

"Drug Heresies" proposes alternatives to strict prohibition of marijuana, 
cocaine and heroin use. Western European countries have had success with 
more moderate approaches, MacCoun wrote. In the United States, he said, 
such approaches are overlooked by government officials who want to appear 
tough on drugs.

"In this country, we really don't have a serious debate," MacCoun said in a 
statement. "Politicians are afraid to be seen as soft on drugs."

In the book, the professors say criminalization of drug use is responsible 
for many of the country's drug problems. They say the high prices for drugs 
on the black market lead people to commit property crimes and thefts.

Fully legalizing drugs, on the other hand, would lead to large increases in 
drug use. Their research finds that more people would use drugs if they 
were legal.

Reuter notes that there is not a strong case for legalization and contends 
that efforts must be made to improve the prohibition system and make it 
work better.

The authors say drug policy-makers must work to reduce drug use and 
diminish the adverse effects of prohibition.

They said there would be little risk if marijuana were legalized, but also 
that little would be gained. They also found no way that cocaine and heroin 
use could be regulated.
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