Pubdate: Mon, 7 Jul 2008
Source: New York Times (NY)
Copyright: 2008 The New York Times Company
Contact:  http://www.nytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n636/a04.html
Author: Anthony Papa

FAILURES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS

To the Editor:

Your editorial, while accurate, misses the overarching point.
Prohibition failed in the past, and it is not working now. The scarce
tax dollars currently being wasted by the White House on quixotic
interdiction adventures pale in comparison to the decades of tax
revenues we haven't been collecting because of prohibition.

These funds could help pay for honest drug education, free drug
treatment on demand and better health care -- all things we need right
now.

Instead of flawed government hype, we need policy alternatives to the
drug war that uphold the sovereignty of individuals over their minds
and bodies and are grounded in science, compassion, health and human
rights.

Anthony Papa

Communications Specialist

Drug Policy Alliance
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake