Pubdate: Fri, 25 Feb 2005
Source: Daily Athenaeum, The (WV Edu)
Copyright: 2005 The Daily Athenaeum
Contact:  http://www.da.wvu.edu/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/763
Author: Robert Sharpe
Note: Title by newshawk
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?219 (Students for Sensible Drug Policy)

FLAWED DRUG POLICY BACKFIRES

West Virginia's hazardous methamphetamine labs are reminiscent of the 
deadly exploding liquor stills that sprang up throughout the nation during 
alcohol prohibition. Drug policies modeled after alcohol prohibition have 
given rise to a youth-oriented black market.

Illegal drug dealers don't ID for age, but they do recruit minors immune to 
adult sentences.

So much for protecting the children. Throwing more money at the problem is 
no solution.

Attempts to limit the supply of drugs while demand remains constant only 
increases the profitability of drug trafficking. For addictive drugs like 
meth, a spike in street prices leads desperate addicts to increase criminal 
activity to feed desperate habits.

The drug war doesn't fight crime, it fuels crime.

Taxing and regulating marijuana, the most popular illicit drug and arguably 
West Virginia's number-one cash crop, is a cost-effective alternative to 
never-ending drug war. As long as marijuana distribution remains in the 
hands of organized crime, consumers will continue to come into contact with 
sellers of hard drugs like meth. This "gateway" is the direct result of a 
fundamentally flawed policy. Given that marijuana is arguably safer than 
legal alcohol - the plant has never been shown to cause an overdose death - 
it makes no sense to waste tax dollars on failed policies that finance 
organized crime and facilitate the use of hard drugs.

Students who want to help reform harmful drug laws should contact Students 
for Sensible Drug Policy at www.ssdp.org.

Robert Sharpe, MPA Policy Analyst Common Sense for Drug Policy
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom