Pubdate: Wed, 25 Feb 2009
Source: Austin American-Statesman (TX)
Copyright: 2009 Austin American-Statesman
Contact:  http://www.statesman.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/32
Author: Eugene Czora

U.S. DRUG POLICY

Re: Feb. 16 commentary "Drop the puffed-up charges."

Conservative columnist Kathleen Parker advocates major changes in the 
failed war on drugs, as have other conservatives, such as the late 
William F. Buckley.?

Her main reasoning for attacking drug prohibition is unfair domestic 
incarceration and neglect of other, more important law enforcement 
problems. I agree, as does the organization Law Enforcement Against 
Prohibition (LEAP), certainly not a bunch of left-wing libertarians.

But there's another, equally important reason to end drug 
prohibition, and that's the extreme harm it's done to other 
countries, such as Columbia. Most recently, Mexico is reportedly in 
danger of becoming a "failed state" because of extreme violence 
directly caused by the U.S. drug policy.

Legalizing and controlling recreational drugs would stop this in its 
tracks. It's pure capitalism: If there's a huge demand, it will be 
met, legally or illegally, and illegality breeds violence. Surely, 
the misery and mayhem caused by present policy demands change.

Eugene Czora

Cedar Creek
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