Pubdate: Mon, 06 Feb 2006
Source: Hendersonville Times-News (NC)
Copyright: 2006 Hendersonville Newspaper Corporation
Contact:  http://www.hendersonvillenews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/793
Author: Robert Sharpe
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

OUR DRUG POLICIES COMPLETELY WRONG

To The Editor:

Henderson County'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 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 children.

Throwing more money at the problem is no solution. Attempts to limit 
the supply of illegal drugs while demand remains constant only 
increase the profitability.

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, is a 
cost-effective alternative to the 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.

Drug policy reform may send the wrong message to children, but I like 
to think the children are more important than the message.

Robert Sharpe

Washington

Robert Sharpe is policy analyst Common Sense for Drug Policy, 
headquartered in Washington.
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