Pubdate: Fri, 16 Jan 2015
Source: New Mexican, The (Santa Fe, NM)
Copyright: 2015 The Santa Fe New Mexican
Contact: http://www.santafenewmexican.com/SendLetter/
Website: http://www.santafenewmexican.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/695
Author: Bernard Gross

END WAR ON DRUGS TO REDUCE CONFLICTS

We are all disheartened by the conflict between police and many black 
men. A major factor seems to be the War on Drugs that we ask police 
to wage. It is public knowledge that the arrest rates of African 
Americans is many times that of white youth although statistics show 
that usage is comparable among similar age groups. In effect, the 
police have been asked to wage a war not supported by the general public.

It is generally acknowledged that the War on Drugs has been a 
phenomenally expensive disaster. Perhaps it is time to resurrect 
common sense and end the war. National attitudes on marijuana use 
have changed indicating that this direction is gaining acceptance.

We should end the war. This will require the public attitude, 
especially of social conservatives, change. This is not as a war on 
conservatives but a time of reconciliation.

Bernard Gross

Santa Fe
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom