Pubdate: Sat, 10 Jan 2004 Source: East Valley Tribune (AZ) Copyright: 2004 East Valley Tribune. Contact: http://www.eastvalleytribune.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2708 Author: Kirk Muse CRIMINALIZING DRUGS EXACERBATES PROBLEM To be successful in any endeavor, one should do what successful people do and avoid doing what unsuccessful people do. This principle hold true for individuals, businesses and governments. About 10 years ago, both Oklahoma and Missouri starting having meth problems that Arizona is now experiencing. The solution that law enforcement and legislatures decided upon was to get really tough on meth producers and users. Since then both states have had some of the toughest anti-meth laws in the country. The net result: meth use and production is now at record levels in both states and dozens of others. Increasing law enforcement efforts only make the product more profitable. No product or business can be eliminated by making it more profitable. Prohibition doesn't work. It never has and never will, except to assure full employment for those doing the prohibiting. The solution to our meth problem is to make pure pharmaceutical grade amphetamines legally available in local pharmacies for pennies per dose. This would put the meth producers out of business in a heartbeat. When all types of recreational drugs were legally available in local pharmacies for pennies per dose, the term "drug-related crime" didn't exist. Neither did drug lords, drug cartels or drug dealers as we know them today. These were all created by our drug criminalization policies-- not drugs. Kirk Muse Mesa - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin