Pubdate: Thu, 10 Apr 2003 Source: Racine Journal Times, The (WI) Copyright: 2003, The Racine Journal Times Contact: http://www.journaltimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1659 DECRIMINALIZE DRUGS I agree that the near-fatal use of AMT by three Racine young persons was scary. I hope that it was a warning that drug abuse can be life-threatening. However, making AMT illegal is also quite scary-and totally ineffective. If AMT is banned from the Internet, it will be sold by drug dealers on the streets, who will reap increased profits as with poisoned "bathtub gin" during alcohol prohibition and dealers of illegal substances have no incentive to prove their quality or safety. Decriminalizing AMT and other drugs would permit reputable pharmaceutical firms to manufacture and sell them. This would mean consistent dosage standards along with accurate information about benefits and side effects. Drug prohibition has encouraged the usage of AMT, LSD, and Ecstasy. These drugs give a few more intense high than marijuana or cocaine with far more unpredictable results. What is especially scary is that The Journal Times, our politicians, and these young people believe that making AMT illegal would have stopped them from purchasing it over the Internet, or anywhere else. They were intent on acquiring party drugs to use with their friends. There is no guarantee that they would have avoided this tragic brush with death, if they had used Ecstasy instead of AMT. The moral of this scary tale is to end the nightmare of drug prohibition, and for party goers to show common sense and personal responsibility before they seek a "high" from drugs which lowers them six feet under. Keith R. Deschler Libertarian Party of Racine/Kenosha 32241/2 Meachem Road - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart