Pubdate: Sat, 18 Jul 2009
Source: Columbian, The (WA)
Copyright: 2009 The Columbian Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.columbian.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/92
Author: Steve Tubbs

PENALIZING ISN’T EFFECTIVE REGULATION

In the July 15 editorial, "Drug war persists," The Columbian’s call to
arms in the "war on drugs" is futile. That war has been lost. As with
Prohibition, this sort of behavior cannot be effectively regulated by
criminalizing it. It is time to consider other alternatives.

Many have perceived the need for re-evaluation, including The
Economist, The Wall Street Journal, Walter Cronkite and the former
chief of police of Seattle, to name a disparate few. The taxpayer
cannot afford to support the incarceration industry any longer.
California is collapsing under the burden of penalizing drug behavior
and its associated crime. It is therefore time for critical
re-evaluation of the problem and affordable solutions.

As a community, we can do this.

Steve Tubbs

Vancouver
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MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr