Pubdate: Wed, 07 Jul 2004 Source: Smoky Mountain News (NC) Copyright: 2004 Smoky Mountain News Contact: http://www.smokymountainnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2714 Author: Kirk Muse Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n941/a08.html DECRIMINALIZING DRUGS WILL SOLVE MANY PROBLEMS Major kudos to retired police detective Marshall Frank for his outstanding opinion: 'Time to wake up and decriminalize drugs' (6-30-04). I'd like to add that many judges and prison wardens have said that 70 to 90 percent of all property crime and violent crime is 'drug-related.' Actually almost 100 percent of all so-called 'drug-related crime' is caused by drug prohibition policies - not drugs. When Coca-Cola contained cocaine instead of caffeine and sold for 5 cents a bottle, the term 'drug-related crime' didn't exist. Neither did drug lords, drug cartels or even drug dealers as we know them today. If all types of recreational drugs were legally available in local licensed business establishments for pennies per dose, drug users wouldn't have to rob, steal or commit acts of prostitution to obtain their drugs of choice. And deaths from recreational drugs would be a small fraction of what they are today because the drugs would be of known quality, known purity and known potency. Many currently employed in law enforcement are opposed to the idea of re-legalizing all types of recreational drugs. Thatis because if drugs were re-legalized, we would need far fewer law enforcement personnel, far fewer prison guards and no prison builders. Thus, many now employed in law enforcement and the prison industry would be looking for a job or washing cars for a living. Of course, those opposed to re-legalizing drugs because it would affect their livelihood will not say so. Instead they will cite noble reasons such as protecting the children. As if the current policies are protecting children from drugs. Kirk Muse Mesa, Ariz. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake