Pubdate: Tue, 07 May 2002 Source: Appleton Post-Crescent (WI) Copyright: 2002 The Post-Crescent Contact: http://www.wisinfo.com/postcrescent/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1443 WAR ON DRUGS COSTLY POLITICAL CURRENCY Kudos to Dr. John Haselow for his sensible letter April 30, explaining why legalization is the only solution to the failed war on drugs. While our elected representatives are, for the most part, so concerned about being re-elected, they are scared to tout solutions to the problems of drugs in society, it is time for serious discussion of this issue. With Wisconsin's budget crisis threatening cutbacks in basic services, it is appropriate that the state Legislature's "tough on crime" policies be discarded. We can no longer afford to lock up otherwise law-abiding Wisconsinites engaged in consensual drug offenses so politicians can claim they are tough on crime. This nation's failed experiment with alcohol prohibition ended when states stopped enforcing that law. At the state Libertarian convention in Madison April 13, New Mexico's Republican Governor, Gary Johnson, called for the legalization of marijuana. That would be a good start. Gary Storck, Madison - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom