Pubdate: Thu, 30 Aug 2007
Source: Wall Street Journal (US)
Copyright: 2007 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.wsj.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/487
Author: Jack Kay

DOWN IN THE TRENCHES IN A WAR THAT CAN'T BE WON (2 OF 4)

Ms. O'Grady is correct beyond any doubt that the war on drug use has 
been and will continue to be a total failure. Citing the late Milton 
Friedman, she correctly notes there is just too much money in it for 
the distribution channel to ever run dry.

Legalizing drugs will bring the street price down to production costs 
plus margin, and put the dealers on the unemployment line. The money 
saved -- no doubt in the tens to hundreds of billions -- can be 
channeled into all sorts of ways to reduce drug use. If this society 
can successfully stigmatize tobacco addiction and make significant 
progress against drunk driving, surely we can figure this one out as 
well. But it starts with the core admission that while attacking the 
supply side of the distribution channel might make for good politics, 
it is doomed policy.

Jack Kay

Framingham, Mass.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman