Pubdate: Sun, 12 Jun 2005
Source: Herald-Dispatch, The (Huntington, WV)
Copyright: 2005 The Herald-Dispatch
Contact:  http://www.hdonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1454
Author: Nate Orders
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05.n949.a10.html

WAR ON DRUGS ONLY MAKES US LESS SAFE

The awful murder of the four teens in Huntington is even more
sickening since it became apparent the event was drug-related. It is
another sad example of how the war on drugs has made us less safe.

While alcohol and drug abuse have basically the same side effects,
they are harmful only to the small population of users and their
families. And these problems can be countered with treatment and counseling.

Since alcohol is legal, it is cheap. And because there is no great
profit to be made selling whiskey, there are no violent gangs fighting
over whiskey territories. Meanwhile, the black market created by drug
prohibition enriches the criminals in our society, while the rest of
us live in fear.

Eradicating drug abuse is a laudable goal, but these murders show that
prohibition carries too high a price. End the war on drugs.

Nate Orders

Charleston
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin