Pubdate: Tue, 16 Jul 2002 Source: Wall Street Journal (US) Copyright: 2002 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. Contact: http://www.wsj.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/487 GOING TO POT Tony Blair's new soft-on-marijuana policy has naturally been getting applause from U.S. legalizers. They like the British decision to make possession of marijuana a ticketing offense, in the same category as illegal possession of steroids or anti-depressants. Meanwhile -- though getting much less U.S. media attention -- the Dutch are having second thoughts about their own famously liberal marijuana laws. Last week the Netherlands announced a plan to crack down on the legal "coffee" houses where you can buy cannabis along with your cappuccino. The arguments for decriminalizing marijuana are well known and not without appeal. And yet the evidence emerging in countries that have legalized (the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium) supports the view that decriminalization leads to rising drug use and higher crime rates. In the Netherlands, marijuana coffeehouses will no longer be permitted near schools or national borders. Neighboring countries with tougher drug laws have complained that their young people cross the border to sample the Dutch wares. Britain has its own bad example in the form of a pilot liberalization in Lambeth, which includes the drugs-ridden south London neighborhood of Brixton. Labour MP Kate Hoey, whose constituency includes Brixton, reports that drug dealers are pushing hard drugs openly on the streets. Police report an 11% increase in trafficking offenses -- though, to be fair, it wasn't clear whether that was because there are more dealers in the area or more cops. For the U.S., the lesson would appear to be to beware legalizers bearing British gifts. Mr. Blair's proposal may sail through the House of Commons, but we're willing to wager that like the Dutch the British will regret the decision once they notice the rise in drug use. The U.S. is better off just saying no. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens