Pubdate: Tue, 30 Apr 2002 Source: Appleton Post-Crescent (WI) Copyright: 2002 The Post-Crescent Contact: http://www.wisinfo.com/postcrescent/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1443 Author: John Haselow Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) LEGALIZATION ANSWER TO DRUG PROBLEM Stuart Schmitz, in his recent letter to the editor "War on drugs expensive, futile" was to the point, and absolutely correct. The key word regarding the drug war is control. Drug use is not bad, drug abuse is bad. We all use drugs or other ways to alter our feelings. Drugs may not be the best choice, but it is a choice we individually need to make. Legalization of illicit drugs is the only reasonable solution to our national (and worldwide) drug problem. Legalization does not mean freedom to use or abuse drugs indiscriminately. Legalization means control. Legalization refers to a set of rules for behavior and rules for the drugs themselves. Legalization destroys the "black market" for drugs, which is responsible for the majority of the crime, violence and overdose deaths associated with illicit drug use. The total cost of our drug war over the past 30 years is one-half trillion dollars, and nothing has been done to resolve this problem. John Haselow, M.D., Drug Policy Reform, Neenah - --- MAP posted-by: Alex