Pubdate: Sun, 24 Aug 2003
Source: Republican, The (MA)
Copyright: 2003 The Republican
Contact:  http://www.masslive.com/republican/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3075
Author: Scott William Brubach
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

DECRIMINALIZE DRUG USE; WATCH CRIME RATE DROP

The Aug. 10 column by Sunday Republican Publisher Larry McDermott, "Community
effort needed to stop violence" is the same old broken record that I've heard
all my life. He states that "most street crime in urban areas such as
Springfield and Holyoke is driven by the sale and use of drugs." He's correct
because the law defines the sale and use of any drug on the street as a crime,
but it is quite a leap to infer that the sale and use of a drug equates to
violence.

McDermott asserts that "If crime prevention and relative safety are our goals,
we cannot achieve them if we only continue taking the same steps." He had me
convinced until the first original suggestion he offered to curb street crime,
not violence, is to focus more police resources on drug interdiction. With all
of the tax revenue and resources that have been wasted in our corrupt "war on
drugs," does he actually expect anyone to support more archaic and misguided
drug interdiction policies?

If we seriously want to end drug related violence in Springfield, we shouldn't
put more narcotics cops on the street, we should put the narcotics cops out of
business.

To stop the violence related to drugs, decriminalize all drugs. Stop treating
people who are drug-dependent or drug-addicted as criminals and start treating
them as patients.

It is far more socially responsible and constructive, let alone cost effective,
to allow doctors to diagnose and treat drug addictions with free prescribed
maintenance doses than to continue filling prisons with people already
suffering from a treatable disease.

This will take the profit out of drugs, eliminating the need for drug dealers
and narcotics cops, while providing a path to recovery through treatment for
those with drug-abuse problems.

Finally, although it's not typically associated with violent behavior, we need
to make a separate legal distinction for marijuana use. As with alcohol and
cigarettes, restrict its use in public while enforcing an age restriction to
access, use, and possession marijuana.

More drug interdiction will not remedy drug-related violence. It may briefly
squeeze the drug supply, which will increase the value of drugs and guarantee
the perpetuation of drug-related violence.

McDermott is perfectly poised to "question and hold accountable those people in
whom we have entrusted the management of public safety." He should demand the
immediate decriminalization of drugs and promote drug treatment. Disclose the
failures of drug interdiction. Persuade city managers to adopt a just and
principled approach to ending drug-related violence. Join the "community effort
needed to stop violence" in Springfield and then put it in writing.
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