Pubdate: Wed, 28 Dec 2005
Source: Pilot, The (NC)
Copyright: 2005 The Pilot LLC
Contact:  http://www.thepilot.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1701
Author: Craig Aldinger
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1976/a06.html

ON LEGALIZING DRUGS

This is in response to Ms. McCormick's Dec. 16 column opposing the 
legalizing of drugs.

It always amazes me that those who oppose the decriminalization of 
"drugs" fail to reference the Constitution of our country. The 18th 
Amendment was ratified on Jan. 16, 1919, and repealed by the 21st 
Amendment on Dec. 5, 1933. In the near 15 years of the prohibition of 
alcohol, our country saw an astonishing rise in lawless behavior by 
its citizens and a concurrent rise of organized criminal enterprises 
to supply the demands of the imbibing public.

The equivalent in our time is this relentless and illogical "war on 
drugs" that has wasted immense amounts of taxpayer dollars and 
needlessly incarcerated and stigmatized many otherwise productive citizens.

My opinion is simply stated: Legislating human behavior is akin to 
herding cats -- a pointless and, ultimately, non-productive enterprise.

Craig Aldinger

Southern Pines
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman