Pubdate: Mon, 07 Sep 2009
Source: Times Union (Albany, NY)
Copyright: 2009 Capital Newspapers Division of The Hearst Corporation
Contact: http://www.timesunion.com/forms/emaileditor.asp
Website: http://www.timesunion.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/452
Author: Anthony Papa, Communications Specialist, Drug Policy Alliance

U.S. MUST UPDATE ITS DRUG POLICIES

Regarding the story, "Mexico's new drug use law worries  U.S.
police":

Mexico has done the right thing. After years of  frustration in
dealing with its drug war, it took a  first step that should be
emulated by other countries,  including ours. With an exploding prison
population and  uncontrolled violence from drug-related activity, 
decriminalization of small amounts of drugs for  personal use is a
controversial, but needed move for  Mexico. The new law will also
offer treatment instead  of incarceration for people caught with small
amounts  of drugs.

Now, some in U.S. law enforcement are complaining about  this because
Mexico has gone against the outdated and  ineffective U.S. drug
policy, which is premised on  strict drug prohibition, which is know
to be a complete  failure. Some 775,000 Americans are arrested each
year  for possessing marijuana alone, which places an  enormous and
needless financial burden on taxpayers.

I applaud Mexico and other Latin American countries for  leading the
way to finding innovative solutions to  solving the problems
associated with the war on drugs.

Anthony Papa

New York City
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MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr