Pubdate: Wed, 12 Dec 2007
Source: Winnipeg Sun (CN MB)
Copyright: 2007 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact:  http://www.winnipegsun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/503
Author: Kirk Muse
Note: Parenthetical remark by the Sun editor.

ELIMINATE DRUG CRIME

Imagine if we had no "drug-related crime." Imagine if our overall 
crime rate was a small fraction of our current crime rate.

We once had such a situation here in the United States. Prior to the 
passage of the Harrison Narcotics Act of 1914, the term "drug-related 
crime" didn't exist.

And drug lords, drug cartels or even drug dealers as we know them 
today, didn't exist either.

Back then, all types of recreational drugs were legally sold to 
anybody with no questions asked, for pennies per dose in grocery 
stores and pharmacies.

Did we have a lot more drug addicts then compared to now? No. We had 
about the same percentage of our population addicted to drugs 
according to U.S. federal judge John L. Kane of Colorado.

For the sake of our children, can we legalize our now-illegal drugs 
and sell them in licenced business establishments? This would put the 
drug dealers and drug lords out of business overnight.

Kirk Muse

Mesa, Ariz.

(If it happens any time soon, it'd be a surprise.)
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart