Pubdate: Tue, 29 Mar 2005
Source: Amarillo Globe-News (TX)
Copyright: 2005 Amarillo Globe-News
Contact:  http://amarillonet.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/13
Author: Bob Ramsey
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n491/a01.html?48212

DRUG REGULATION THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE THE MENACE OF METH

Your March 23 comments about our methamphetamine crisis paraphrase the case 
for outlawing the most dangerous substance of all: alcohol. Alcohol can be 
made from readily available ingredients. It causes death, disease and 
murder, and it's everywhere.

Yet, after a 13-year attempt to eradicate it, America decided the best 
method was legal regulation.

Today we face proliferating meth labs; in 1919, there were 300-odd licensed 
distilleries in the U.S. By 1933, police had destroyed 179,000-plus stills 
as thousands more took their place.

Meth represents the greatest hope that we will come to our senses about the 
devastation of drug prohibition. Before meth, prohibition reinforced our 
prejudices by targeting faceless minorities while allowing law enforcers to 
make money by seizing cash and property.

But meth affects your Uncle Bubba and his wife. Every time you take down a 
meth lab, you get a bill for toxic waste cleanup, two more adults in prison 
and three more kids in foster care. This time around, a narcotics agent who 
does a good job might end up having to raise his sister's kids.

Drug regulation is not a panacea, but it's the best way to manage this 
difficult aspect of human nature.

Bob Ramsey

Drug Policy Forum of Texas

www.dpft.org (http://www.dpft.org)

Irving
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom