Pubdate: Mon, 16 Apr 2012
Source: Dallas Morning News (TX)
Copyright: 2012 The Dallas Morning News, Inc.
Contact: http://www.dallasnews.com/cgi-bin/lettertoed.cgi
Website: http://www.dallasnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/117
Author: Terry Nelson

CRIMINALIZATION DOESN'T DETER

Re: "Legal drugs as bargain? - It's not unreasonable to consider 
modified policy" by George Will, Thursday Viewpoints.

George Will rightly points out how our drug prohibition laws create 
opportunities for violent gangs and cartels to make billions of 
dollars in tax-free profits by filling the seemingly insatiable 
demand for drugs.

But Will is wrong to assume that legalization would cause a sharp 
rise in drug problems. As a former U.S. border agent who participated 
in many anti-drug operations, Ib

When we legalize and regulate drugs and stop wasting so many 
resources punishing people for a health problem, we can devote more 
funding to treatment programs that actually do work. Only under 
legalization can we require testing and labeling drugs for potency 
and purity so users know exactly what they are putting in their bodies.

And when we remove the criminal stigma currently associated with 
addiction, people will be less afraid to seek treatment or to call 
for lifesaving medical attention during overdose situations.

Legalization will help solve organized crime problems and will have 
the added benefit of allowing us to effectively begin to tackle the 
serious matter of drug abuse.

Terry Nelson, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, Granbury
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom