Pubdate: Sat, 22 Mar 2003
Source: Bradenton Herald (FL)
Copyright: 2003 Bradenton Herald
Contact:  http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradentonherald/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/58
Author: Richard Sinnott

LEGAL ERA SAFER

Even though I disagree with her conclusions, I enjoyed reading the guest 
column by Brenda Katz. It was a well-written article reflecting much 
thought on the subject of drug policy.

One technical error Ms. Katz made was that "some countries have legalized 
drugs" is inaccurate. The United Nations controls world drug policy, so to 
speak, and drugs are illegal worldwide. But it is true that several 
countries in Europe have recently decided not to enforce certain of the 
drug laws - a sort of decriminalization, I suppose.

Her letter was thought provoking, and I would like to ask a few questions 
in response.

If legalization is not the answer, how is it that this country thrived 
under legalized drug sales for perhaps 150 years or so, and then has 
suffered so much in the 88 years since prohibition was instituted? How can 
that be?

Why is it that under a system of prohibition (88 years old now) we have 
contraband drugs being sold by children in school? Why is it that 
contraband drugs are available in many prisons? Why is it that the 
addiction level after prohibition is virtually the same as the addiction 
level before?

Richard Sinnott,  Fort Pierce
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MAP posted-by: Tom