Pubdate: Wed, 30 Jan 2002
Source: State Journal-Register (IL)
Copyright: 2002 The State Journal-Register
Contact:  http://www.sj-r.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/425
Author: Larry Stevens

FLAWED WAR ON DRUGS IS UNSUSTAINABLE

Dear Editor,

The war on drugs is unsustainable and the state's budget woes are the 
proof.  Feel-good drug laws that fuel expensive prison growth are eating us 
out of house and home. We can no longer afford the luxury of rounding up 
minorities from urban centers and warehousing them in downstate prisons in 
the name of fighting the war on drugs.

Treatment for drug abuse, maintenance programs for opiate addiction and 
cannabis decriminalization would be much less expensive and much more 
effective approaches to drug policy. These pragmatic measures have reduced 
crime, addiction and government budgets everywhere they've been adopted. 
Reduce the harm associated with drug use and you reduce the social and 
fiscal costs as well.

We should grant early release to non-violent drug offenders as an emergency 
budgetary measure and then begin the long journey toward a more enlightened 
and affordable drug policy.

Larry Stevens

Springfield
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens