Pubdate: Tue, 09 Oct 2007
Source: Valley Independent, The (Monessen, PA)
Copyright: 2007 The Tribune-Review Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.valleyindependent.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2641
Author: Robert Sharpe

WRONG APPROACH

To the Editor:
Regarding your Sept. 25 editorial (Police dog will benefit Monessen), 
the police state approach to public health problems like substance 
abuse is a proven failure.

The steady rise in drug-sniffing dogs in schools, warrantless police 
searches, and random drug testing have led to a loss of civil 
liberties in America, while failing miserably at preventing drug use.

Based on findings that criminal records are inappropriate as health 
interventions and ineffective as deterrents, a majority of European 
Union countries have decriminalized marijuana. Despite marijuana 
prohibition and perhaps because of forbidden fruit appeal, lifetime 
use of marijuana is higher in the United States than any European country.

The drug war threatens the integrity of a country founded on the 
concept of limited government. It's not possible to wage a moralistic 
war against consensual vices unless privacy is completely eliminated, 
along with the U.S. Constitution.

America can either be a free country or a "drug-free" country, but not both.

Robert Sharpe, MPA

Policy Analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, D.C.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman