Pubdate: Tue, 1 Oct 2002
Source: Moscow Times, The (Russia)
Copyright: 2002 The Moscow Times
Contact:  http://www.moscowtimes.ru/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/903
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1670/a08.html
Author: Kirk Muse

RE: PUTIN URGES ACTION AGAINST DRUGS

I'm writing about: "Putin Urges Action Against Drugs" (9-5-02).  It appears 
that Russia is about to follow the path of The United States in its battle 
against drugs.

Don't do it.  The U. S. drug policy has been an absolute total 
disaster.  The U. S. has increased its drug enforcement budget by a 
whopping 29,500 percent in the past 32 years.

The net result: anybody in the U. S. that wants drugs can still get 
them--just as easily as in 1969.

No matter how much money we throw at the problem, we cannot nullify the 
basic economic law of supply and demand.  As long as people want drugs and 
are willing to pay a substantial price for them, somebody will produce the 
drugs and somebody will get the drugs to the willing buyers.  Guaranteed.

My advice to Russia is to carefully observe U. S. drug policy and then do 
the opposite.  What we are doing isn't working.

Kirk Muse, Mesa, AZ, U. S. A.
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