Pubdate: Thu, 17 Jul 2008 Source: Appeal-Democrat (Marysville, CA) Copyright: 2008 Appeal-Democrat Contact: http://www.appeal-democrat.com/sections/services/forms/editorletter.php Website: http://www.appeal-democrat.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1343 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n683/a08.html Author: Robert Sharpe DRUG ABUSE BAD; DRUG WAR WORSE Regarding your thoughtful July 15 editorial ("Drug war and drug use stats don't connect"), the drug war has done little other than turn the land of the free into the world's biggest jailer. If harsh penalties deterred illegal drug use, the elusive goal of a "drug- free" America would have been achieved decades ago. Ironically, the U.S. has higher rates of illicit drug use than the many European countries that have decriminalized drug use. Instead of adding to what is already the highest incarceration rate in the world, we should be funding cost-effective drug treatment. The drug war is a cure worse than the disease. Drug prohibition finances organized crime at home and terrorism abroad, which is then used to justify increased drug war spending. It's time to end this madness. Thanks to public education, tobacco use has declined considerably in recent years. Apparently mandatory minimum sentences, civil asset forfeiture, random drug testing and racial profiling are not the most effective ways to discourage unhealthy choices. Drug abuse is bad, but the drug war is worse. Robert Sharpe, MPA Policy Analyst Common Sense for Drug Policy - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake