Pubdate: Tue, 10 Nov 2015
Source: Albuquerque Journal (NM)
Copyright: 2015 Albuquerque Journal
Contact:  http://www.abqjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/10
Author: Elena Bost

IT'S TIME TO END THE 'WAR ON DRUGS'

ALMOST EVERY DAY or two in our local paper or the one in Las Cruces, 
there are articles about how many backpacks full of marijuana have 
been brought across the border in southwest New Mexico. One week, the 
paper said it was almost 1 million dollars' worth. Where did it go 
when it was picked up? I can make a bet that much of it was sold to 
others, some by our own DEA agents.

Why in the world don't we legalize all drugs and sell them in stores? 
The money wasted on enforcement might then do some good. It could 
help to fund our dismal education system, which has the lowest 
graduation rate in the nation.

Did anyone out there ever read the history of prohibition? Crime went 
up dramatically. Many were killed, far more than today. Prohibition 
only lasted 13 years and the politicians ended it as it did not work. 
If you tell anyone they absolutely cannot have something they want it 
more than ever and they will find a way to get it.

When the "War on Drugs" was declared many years ago, we were told 
that people would stop using drugs if they were illegal but they did 
not and they will not.

Many of our young end up in prison on drug charges and get longer 
sentences than older people who have committed much more serious 
crimes. We see on the news every few days where older affluent adults 
are given probation or very short sentences for embezzlement, child 
abuse and more serious crimes

I have worked to end this nonsense for many years and more people 
agree with me than a few years ago.

Crime has not gone up in the states where marijuana is legal. Far 
more people have been killed by drunken drivers than someone smoking marijuana.

ELENA BOST

Deming
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