Pubdate: Wed, 12 Oct 2005
Source: Iowa State Daily (IA Edu)
Copyright: 2005 Iowa State Daily
Contact:  http://www.iowastatedaily.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1227
Author: Kirk Muse
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

DRUG LAWS CAUSE MORE PROBLEMS

If tough-on-drugs policies worked, the quixotic goal of a drug-free America 
would have been reached a long time ago. And if tolerant drug policies 
created more drug use, the Netherlands would have much higher drug usage 
rates than the United States.

It does not. In fact, the Dutch use marijuana and other recreational drugs 
at much lower rates than Americans do. See the Web site: 
http://www.drugwarfacts.org/thenethe.htm.

And if tolerant drug policies caused more overall crime, especially violent 
crime, the Dutch would have much higher crime rates than the United States. 
It does not. The Dutch murder rate is less than one-third the U. S. per 
capita murder rate and its rate of incarceration is about one-seventh the 
U. S. incarceration rate.

In the Netherlands, marijuana is sold to adults without criminals actions 
in coffee shops. In the United States, marijuana is sold by criminals who 
often sell other, much more dangerous drugs, and who often offer free 
samples of the more dangerous drugs to their marijuana customers -- thus 
the gateway effect.

Legalize, regulate and control the sale of marijuana and we close the gateway.

Kirk Muse

Resident

Mesa, Ariz.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D