Pubdate: Tue, 11 May 2004 Source: New York City Newsday (NY) Copyright: 2004 Newsday, Inc. Contact: http://cf.newsday.com/newsdayemail/email.cfm Website: http://www.nynewsday.com/news/printedition/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3362 Author: Gary Krasner PROHIBITION DOESN'T WORK Let's admit that drug dealers are not in business to hurt people. They're in it for the money. The fact that drugs injure their clients is incidental to them. Let's also admit that drug abusers are criminals because of the laws against controlled substances. Either they're caught using the illegal drugs, or because of the high cost of illegal drugs the users rob, steal or prostitute themselves to obtain the money to pay for them. Prohibition forces the commerce underground - it never stops it. Supply inevitably meets demand. Let's drop the facade that under decriminalization we may lose "respect for law" or rip the "moral fabric of our society." Strictly from a rational public policy standpoint, decriminalizing drugs is a no brainer. Gary Krasner, Holliswood - --- MAP posted-by: Jackl