Pubdate: Fri, 13 Nov 2015
Source: Boston Herald (MA)
Copyright: 2015 The Boston Herald, Inc
Contact:  http://news.bostonherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/53
Note: Prints only very short LTEs.
Author: Tom Larkin

DRUG WAR A LOSER

The continued criminalization of marijuana and other drugs has not 
worked ("Ohio snuffs out Big Pot's risky push for legalization," Nov. 9).

Those punitive policies, over many years, have led to serious 
consequences including mandatory sentencing, expensive prison 
overcrowding and a lack of judicial discretion. And it has entrenched 
the underground business of delivering and selling illegal drugs.

It is common knowledge that cigarettes kill more people in the U.S. 
than any other drug. And alcohol use destroys more lives and 
destabilizes society to a far greater extent than marijuana and other drugs.

The United States should apply the far more rational policies we use 
to control cigarettes and alcohol use to all potential addiction 
problems, rather than continuing the failed "War on Drugs."

- - Tom Larkin, Bedford

The writer is a licensed psychologist.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom