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
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