Pubdate: Tue, 9 Oct 2007
Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
Copyright: 2007 Hearst Communications Inc.
Contact:  http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/388
Author: Joseph D. McNamara

TIME TO DECRIMINALIZE

Editor - Mayor Gavin Newsom is right. Thirty-five years in policing
convinced me that the drug war is a total failure.

We have locked up millions of Americans, squandered billions,
enormously increased violence and corruption, without having less drug
harm. It is time to decriminalize and treat those in drug trouble
instead of locking them in cages like animals.

JOSEPH D. MCNAMARA

Police Chief San Jose, (ret.)

Research Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake