Pubdate: Sat, 5 Apr 2008
Source: Dallas Morning News (TX)
Copyright: 2008 The Dallas Morning News
Contact:  http://www.dallasnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/117
Author: Rick Steves
Note: Rick Steves writes European travel guidebooks and hosts travel 
shows on public television and public radio.
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Rick+Steves (Rick Steves)

THEIR CURE DOESN'T COST MORE THAN PROBLEM

As a parent helping two children navigate their teen years, and as a 
travel writer who has seen firsthand how Europe deals with its drug 
problem, I've thought a lot about American drug policy - particularly 
our criminalization of marijuana.

Europe, like America, is dealing with a persistent drug-abuse 
problem. But Europe - which treats drug abuse primarily as a public 
health issue - measures the success of its drug policy in terms of 
pragmatic harm reduction.

Europeans seek a cure that isn't more costly than the problem. While 
the U.S. spends its tax dollars on police, courts and prisons, Europe 
fights drug abuse by funding doctors, counselors and clinics. 
European Union policymakers estimate that for each euro invested in 
drug education and counseling, they save 15 euros in police and 
health costs. Similar estimates have been made for U.S. health-based 
approaches by the RAND Corp. and others.

While Europeans are as firmly opposed to hard drugs as we are, the 
difference in how they approach marijuana is striking. Take the 
Netherlands, with its famously liberal marijuana laws. On my last 
trip to Amsterdam, I visited a "coffeeshop" - a cafe that openly and 
legally sells marijuana to people over 18. I sat and observed the 
very local, almost quaint scene: Neighbors were chatting. An older 
couple parked their bikes and dropped in for a baggie to go. An 
underage customer was shooed away. Then a police officer showed up 
.. but only to post a warning about the latest danger from chemical 
drugs on the streets.

Some concerned American parents are comforted by the illusion of 
control created by our complete prohibition on marijuana. But the 
policy seems to be backfiring: Their kids say it's easier to buy 
marijuana than tobacco or alcohol.

When it comes to marijuana, European leaders understand that a 
society must choose: Tolerate alternative lifestyles, or build more 
prisons. They've made their choice. We're still building more prisons.

The time has come to have an honest discussion about our marijuana 
laws. We need to find a policy that is neither "hard on drugs" nor 
"soft on drugs" ... but smart on drugs.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake