Pubdate: Wed, 04 Feb 2015
Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)
Copyright: 2015 Los Angeles Times
Contact:  http://www.latimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/248
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v15/n067/a08.html
Author: Peter Garey

DRUGS AND JAILS

Re "Prop. 47 is working, but jury still out," Column, Jan. 31

Drugs don't breed crime; it is the illegality of drugs that breeds 
crime. It is the illegality that turns a $1 product into a $100 
product that often can only be acquired by criminal behavior.

Yes, an uninsured $1,000-per-day medical condition will breed crime.

People would no more rob for a $1 candy bar than they would for $1 
worth of heroin. And, as politically incorrect as it may be to say, 
smacked-out people don't commit crimes. These crimes are caused by 
cravings that can only be met by a product absurdly overpriced for no 
other reason than its illegality.

Additionally, the billions spent on interdiction could be redirected 
for hospitalization and care for a relatively small number of 
hard-core addicts. As for the casual but otherwise law-abiding user, 
we need to reconsider our obsession with managing pleasure and 
instead focus on accountability.

Peter Garey

Woodland Hills
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom