Pubdate: Tue, 18 Mar 2014
Source: Monroe News-Star (LA)
Copyright: 2014 The News-Star, Gannett
Contact:   http://www.thenewsstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1644
Author: Lou Barber

SOLVING THE DRUG PROBLEM

Twenty states and the District of Columbia have passed medical 
marijuana laws legalizing the use and production of medical marijuana 
for qualifying patients under state law.

Some states have legalized marijuana for public use with 
across-the-counter purchases.

Approximately 50 years ago, Switzerland legalized drugs. The result 
was the drug users took over all public facilities like parks and 
swimming pools. Used needles were strewn on lawns, sidewalks and 
overflowing trashcans. My wife and I witnessed that mess in Lucerne 
in the early 1960s.

Legalizing marijuana is a step into the use of stronger and more 
life-threatening drugs. Many families in every city and town have 
lost a son or daughter to drugs. A high percentage of murders are 
directly related to drug use. People will do things under the 
influence of drugs that they would never do sober. It affects 
families at all levels of the financial spectrum. Drug busts that 
bring charges and jail time to youths have not worked.

The History Channel covered the action of the U.S. Coast Guard 
attempting to apprehend drug runners at sea. They estimated that they 
were stopping approximately 5 percent of incoming drugs. More than 22 
million Americans age 12 and older - nearly 9 percent of the U.S. 
population - use illegal drugs according to the government's 2010 
National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

Most of the users are under age 30. They become lost to society and 
commit thousands of vicious crimes across the country.

In my opinion, drug traffic must be stopped at our country's borders. 
Losing our youth to drugs inflicts damage to our nation. Individuals 
caught bringing large quantities of drugs across our borders should 
be shot within 24 hours. Their execution should be televised.

I truly believe then the drug traffic would dry up.

Lou Barber

Ruston
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