Pubdate: Wed, 26 Apr 2006
Source: Quesnel Cariboo Observer (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 Quesnel Cariboo Observer
Contact:  http://www.quesnelobserver.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1260
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n479/a05.html
Author: Kirk Muse

CZECHS HAVE RIGHT IDEA

Re: Dismayed by editorial, Letters, The Observer, April 9.

I'd like to add that there is only one country in the world that is 
actually winning the drug war: the Czech Republic. And they use 
dramatically different strategies to do so.

The Czech Republic is the only country in the world where adult 
citizens can legally use, possess and grow small quantities of 
marijuana. (In the Netherlands, marijuana is quasi-legal - not 
officially legal.)

The Czech overall drug arrest rate is 1 per 100,000 population. The 
United States' overall drug arrest rate is 585 per 100,000 population.

The Czech robbery rate is 2 per 100,000 population. The United 
States' robbery rate is 145.9 per 100,000 population, according to our FBI.

According to our drug war cheerleaders, tolerant marijuana laws cause 
people to use other, much more dangerous drugs, such as 
methamphetamine and heroin. Obviously, this doesn't happen in the 
Czech Republic.

Why not?

Could it be that when people can legally obtain marijuana at an 
affordable price, they tend not to use or desire any other 
recreational drugs? Could it be that marijuana legalization actually 
creates a roadblock to hard drug use  not a gateway?

Could it be that the vast majority our so-called "drug-related crime" 
is caused by our marijuana prohibition policies?

Kirk Muse

Mesa, Az.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake