Pubdate: Fri, 06 Feb 2004
Source: LSU Reveille (LA Edu)
Copyright: 2004, LSU Reveille
Contact:  http://www.lsureveille.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2879
Author: Scott Russ

BATON ROUGE RESIDENT ADDRESSES DRUG WAR

America has been fighting the "drug war" (a war against its own
citizens) for over 70 years now.

The drug war has hypocritically terrorized and incarcerated millions
of Americans.

Most rich and connected people that use drugs go on without any
criminal record.

The poor and disconnected get their lives torn apart and are often
times imprisoned.

Drugs are not inherently good or bad. Those who use drugs are
certainly not criminals unless they harm others or another's property.

Our government's prohibition of certain drugs has created an
unregulated black market in which any man, woman or child may
participate.

Many adults use these now "illegal" substances and go on to live
perfectly normal lives.

Presidents, along with many other politicians and prominent members of
our society, have admitted to using some of the very substances that
are currently illegal.

So you see, the demand is always going to be there by adults who, for
the most part, use them responsibly.

Our criminal law should be reserved for those who sell to minors and
for those who use these substances irresponsibly by harming others or
others' property.

But we have no such control over the current market for "illicit"
drugs.

Before the 1930s we did have control over these substances.

Then, for political and bigoted reasons, certain substances were
criminalized. Then began our disrespect for government and law
enforcement.

We tried prohibition in dealing with alcohol. The results of that
"noble experiment" were making Al Capone a rich man and corrupting our
government, law enforcement and judiciary along the way.

Sound familiar?

So, until we remove the black market aspect from our current illegal
market, i.e. legal regulation, we will continue to see the crime,
corruption, death and disease associated with prohibition rise.

I urge citizens to contact their representatives and let them know
that we demand social and healthcare solutions for those who have
problems with drug use and not criminal justice solutions that leave
the user and society in an ever digressing disaster.

Scott Russ

Baton Rouge Resident
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin