Pubdate: Thu, 01 Mar 2001
Source: Baltimore Sun (MD)
Copyright: 2001 The Baltimore Sun, a Times Mirror Newspaper.
Contact:  501 N. Calvert Street P.0. Box 1377 Baltimore, MD 21278
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Author: Robert Sharpe
Note: The writer is program officer for the Lindesmith Center-Drug Policy 
Foundation.
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n303/a06.html

ZERO TOLERANCE ISN'T BEST WAY TO FIGHT DRUGS

In his column "White House must take lead in drug wars" (Opinion Commentary 
Feb. 20), Michael Dana points to the drug war's unintended consequences as 
reason to intensify efforts.

But the fact that filling prisons with non-violent drug offenders costs 
taxpayers billions is reason to rethink the drug war, not to continue it. 
There are cost-effective alternatives to the drug war. The Netherlands, for 
example has reduced drug use by replacing marijuana prohibition with 
regulation. Dutch drug-use rates are significantly lower than U.S. rates in 
every category. Separating the hard and soft drug markets and establishing 
age controls has proven
more effective than zero tolerance.

Robert Sharpe, Washington
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager