Pubdate: Wed, 10 Oct 2007
Source: Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Copyright: 2007 Mountain Xpress
Contact:  http://www.mountainx.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/941
Author: Kirk Muse

THE OTHER DRUG OPTION

I'm writing about the letter from Radix Y. Faruq ["Taking Crime 
Personally," Sept. 12]. Unfortunately, the common-sense solution to 
Asheville's crime problem lies in Washington, D.C.--not Asheville or 
any other city or town in the United States. Since the vast majority 
of all of our violent crime and property crime is caused by our 
drug-prohibition policies, the common-sense solution is to 
re-legalize all of our now-illegal drugs.  Then the drugs can be sold 
in legal, regulated and licensed business establishments. Then drug 
dealers as we know them will disappear for economic reasons.

Then our so-called "drug-related crime" will be in our past--not our 
future. Most people currently employed in law enforcement are against 
the re-legalization of our now illegal drugs.

That's because we would need far fewer law enforcement personnel if 
all drugs were re-legalized. Also, we would need far fewer jail and 
prison guards, and no jail or prison builders. However, there is one 
organization made up of law-enforcement personnel who favor the 
re-legalization of all drugs, despite the fact that it's against 
their own economic self interest to do so: L.E.A.P. (Law Enforcement 
Against Prohibition).

I suggest the readers visit the L.E.A.P. Web site 
(http://www.leap.cc); then arrange for a L.E.A.P. speaker to give an 
informative and entertaining talk to any organization or group about 
our current and past drug policies.

Most will arrive at the talk skeptical; most will leave convinced.

Convinced that we need to make major changes to our nation's drug policies.

Kirk Muse Mesa, Ariz.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman