Pubdate: Sat, 30 Apr 2005 Source: Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, FL) Copyright: 2005 Sun-Sentinel Company Contact: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/159 Author: Fred Roger Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) DECRIMINALIZE USE The following headlines appeared in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel on April 20: "More teens have abused a prescription painkiller in 2004 than Ecstasy, cocaine, crack or SSD, the survey found." This further increased my feelings for the need for decriminalizing the use of drugs. This law increased the use of drugs, created criminal elements such as drug dealers and gangs who have killed untold numbers of innocent people and overcrowded our jails. The law prohibiting alcoholic beverages was repealed for the same reason. The billions of dollars saved could be used to educate and aid in the rehabilitation of addicts. Fred Roger Delray Beach - --- MAP posted-by: Beth