Pubdate: Fri, 02 Sep 2005
Source: Sun News (Myrtle Beach, SC)
Copyright: 2005 Sun Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/sunnews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/987
Note: apparent 150 word limit on LTEs
Author: James E. Dunn
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

RESULTS OF DRUG LAWS IN U.S. 'DEPRESSING'

Jack McGoldrick's response to my July 20 letter "Legalizing drugs would cut 
costs, crime" with his letter Aug. 12, "Legalizing drugs would unleash 
problems," shows the apparent lack of knowledge of the actual magnitude of 
this nation's youthful illegal drug use.

You may buy almost any illegal drug you want, at almost all the public 
middle and high schools in this country, and this has been the case ever 
since the very early 1970s.

He ignored how most other civilized nations - Western Europe, especially - 
have lowered their illegal usage - through the decriminalization of drugs.

I said that only the government would sell these drugs - as these other 
civilized nations do - and anyone caught selling them to anyone younger 
than 21 would be locked in a cell.

I know what I am talking about, but my opinion is not the law. McGoldrick's 
opinion is the law, however, and this society has to put up with the 
depressing results.

James E. Dunn

Myrtle Beach 
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman