Pubdate: Wed, 22 Aug 2007 Source: Rock River Times (IL) Copyright: The Rock River Times 2007 Contact: http://www.rockrivertimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/539 Author: Kirk Muse LEGALIZATION OF DRUGS WOULD STOP ILLEGAL DRUG TRADE I'm writing about Stuart R. Wahlin's story: "Citizens Aug. 8-14, 2007 asking for city involvement in curbing violence" (8/10/07). Unfortunately, the common-sense solution to Rockford's crime problem lies in Washington, D.C.--not Rockford or any other city or town in the United States. Since the vast majority of all of our violent crime and property crime is caused by our drug prohibition policies, the common-sense solution is to re-legalize all of our now-illegal drugs. Then, the drugs can be sold in legal, regulated and licensed business establishments for pennies per dose. Then, drug dealers, as we know them today, will disappear for economic reasons. Then, our so-called "drug-related crime" will be in our past--not our future. Most people currently employed in law enforcement are against the re-legalization of our now-illegal drugs. That's because we would need far fewer law enforcement personnel if all drugs were re-legalized. However, there is one organization made up of law enforcement personnel who favor the re-legalization of all drugs despite the fact that it's against their own economic self-interest to do so. That organization is called L.E.A.P. (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition). I suggest the readers visit the L.E.A.P. Web site at: www.leap.cc. Then, arrange for a speaker from L.E.A.P. to give an informative and entertaining talk about our current and past drug policies to any organization or group. Most will arrive at the L.E.A.P. talk skeptical--most will leave convinced. Convinced that we must make major changes to our nation's drug policies. Kirk Muse Mesa, Ariz. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom