Pubdate: Wed, 19 Jun 2002
Source: Chicago Sun-Times (IL)
Copyright: 2002 The Sun-Times Co.
Contact:  http://www.suntimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/81
Author: Jake Witmer

A CASUALTY OF USELESS WAR

The June 13 article ''City targets heroin buyers coming from the suburbs'' 
states: ''When a buyer hitting the West Side open-air drug markets is 
arrested, the car will be seized and towed, and the owner will have to pay 
towing and storage fees that could run into the hundreds of dollars.'' Is 
that before or after the trial by jury?

Once again, the war on drugs comes into direct conflict with the 
Constitution, and the Bill of Rights loses. Yet, for all their 
Constitution-shredding tactics, the police are unsuccessful at doing 
anything to materially affect the drug trade (beyond occasionally driving 
up the cost of prohibited drugs and making a few drug users' lives a living 
hell). What an accomplishment.

And that's only one of thousands of very good reasons all drugs should be 
legal. Drug use is a personal choice -- even the use of potentially deadly 
drugs like alcohol, cocaine, cigarettes and heroin. If American citizens 
own their own bodies, then they should be able to choose what substances go 
into those bodies. End of argument.

Jake Witmer

West Town
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens