Pubdate: Fri, 12 Mar 2010
Source: USA Today (US)
Copyright: 2010 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc
Contact:  http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/index.htm
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/466
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n165/a07.html
Author: Norm Stamper

OUR 'WAR ON DRUGS' CAUSES MORE HARM THAN GOOD

Former county judge James Gray and former police officer Jeff Studdard
deserve praise for bravely speaking out against the harmful and
ineffective marijuana laws they spent so much of their lives enforcing
("Slowly, limits on pot are fading," Cover story, News, Tuesday).

As a former chief of police in Seattle, I also saw how the prohibition
of marijuana and other drugs does nothing to stop substance abuse.

Rather, it fuels the vast and violent drug cartels and street gangs
that control the obscenely profitable illegal market. Prohibition
guarantees high rates of property crimes, public corruption, disease,
violence and death.

As more law enforcers and legislators publicly acknowledge what
they've long known, namely that our "war on drugs" causes far more
harm than good, we'll enact laws that actually regulate and control
drug markets. In the process, we'll reduce children's access, help
those with substance abuse problems, and make our communities
healthier and safer.

Norm Stamper - Eastsound, Wash.
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