Pubdate: Mon, 12 Jul 2004
Source: Muskogee Daily Phoenix (OK)
Copyright: C2004 Muskogee Daily Phoenix
Contact: http://www.muskogeephoenix.com/customerservice/contactus.html
Website: http://www.muskogeephoenix.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3319
Author: ROBERT SHARPE

REFORM POLICIES TO AX METH PROBLEM

Oklahoma's hazardous methamphetamine labs are reminiscent of the deadly 
exploding liquor stills that sprang up throughout the nation during alcohol 
prohibition.

Drug policies modeled after alcohol prohibition have given rise to a 
youth-oriented black market. Illegal drug dealers don't ID for age, but 
they do recruit minors immune to adult sentences. So much for protecting 
the children.

Throwing more money at the problem is no solution. Attempts to limit the 
supply of illegal drugs while demand remains constant only increase the 
profitability of trafficking. For addictive drugs like meth, a spike in 
street prices leads desperate addicts to increase criminal activity to feed 
desperate habits. The drug war doesn't fight crime, it fuels crime.

Taxing and regulating marijuana, the most popular illicit drug, is a 
cost-effective alternative to never-ending drug war. As long as marijuana 
distribution remains in the hands of organized crime, consumers will 
continue to come into contact with sellers of hard drugs like meth.

Given that marijuana is arguably safer than legal alcohol -- the plant has 
never been shown to cause an overdose death -- it makes no sense to waste 
tax dollars on failed policies that finance organized crime and facilitate 
the use of hard drugs. Drug policy reform may send the wrong message to 
children, but I like to think the children are more important than the message.

ROBERT SHARPE, Washington
- ---
MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart