Pubdate: Thu, 08 Nov 2007
Source: Courier-Post (Cherry Hill, NJ)
Copyright: 2007 Courier-Post
Contact:  http://www.courierpostonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/826
Author: Bob Garvis

LEGALIZE DRUGS

I was brought up in the 1920s and '30s. Prohibition was in force.
Crime was everywhere and people were indiscriminately killed and
maimed, both the innocent and guilty.

Men, women and children were caught in the crossfire from cars filled
with gangsters firing at each other. If there was any attempt by one
gang to take over a territory, a gang war broke out and many lives
were lost. Millions were made by the bootlegging gangs.

Then, President Franklin D. Roosevelt pushed Congress to end
Prohibition, which they did. What happened? Bootlegging was no longer
profitable. The gangs had to look elsewhere for money or go out of
business, which many of them did.

Today, our country is torn apart by drug wars in the streets of our
cities. The local dealer has to protect his turf. The large dealer has
to protect his corner dealers.

What might happen if drugs sales were legalized? The money incentives
would disappear and there would no longer be the need for neighborhood
crime. If drugs were legalized, the poppy growers would no longer find
it profitable to grow the plant and convert it to opium. The Drug
Enforcement Agency would certainly have an easier time. How many
billions of dollars could be used for much better purposes? By the
way, when was the last time you heard of anyone smuggling liquor?

Bob Garvis,

Blackwood
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