Pubdate: Fri, 24 May 2002
Source: Tampa Tribune (FL)
Section: Nation / World page 12
Copyright: 2002, The Tribune Co.
Contact:  http://www.tampatrib.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/446
Author: Anthony Lorenzo, Tampa

DRUG WAR IS THE CAUSE

In reference to your article "County Jails In A Real Jam" (Metro, May 22), 
I would like to comment that the drug war is fueling this prison industrial 
growth problem. This is why I vote Libertarian (www.lpf.org) or Green 
(www.greens.org).

We need to decriminalize drugs, especially marijuana. Almost half of the 
drug arrests in this country were for marijuana last year. These people do 
not belong in prison or jail. These are health issues that are not the 
criminal justice system's problem. We incarcerate a larger portion of our 
population than any other country in the world - 2 million as opposed to 
only 7 million worldwide. We are responsible for almost 29 percent of the 
world's prison population. More than half the people in prison are there 
simply for drug possession. We will go bankrupt if we continue this silly war.
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MAP posted-by: Beth