Pubdate: Fri, 04 Dec 2015
Source: Buffalo News (NY)
Copyright: 2015 The Buffalo News
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/GXIzebQL
Website: http://www.buffalonews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/61
Author: Dennis Seekins
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v15/n668/a04.html

DRUG PROHIBITION FUELS CRIMINAL ENTERPRISES

A recent letter stated: "Legalizing drugs would eliminate a lot of 
crime." It was spot on. Let me expand. When Prohibition ended, 
criminals lost their monopoly in supplying alcohol to the public. 
Without the monopoly, their income dried up. Their (sometimes 
poisonous) product couldn't compete with the good stuff put out by 
the newly back in business, old line brewers and distillers.

Unfortunately, the prohibition on alcohol was switched to heroin, 
cocaine and marijuana. Even more unfortunately, the results have been 
even worse. Prohibition had corrupted whole police departments. We 
now have whole countries, Mexico for one, devastated by the 
international criminal drug gangs. Our own law enforcement and 
criminal justice system is overwhelmed by a war on drugs that can't be won.

If and when we legalize or decriminalize drug use, the international 
criminals will lose their income. The letter writer made the point 
that some drugs will be sold over the counter and some only in 
clinics. But the profits will be taken from the criminals.

Dennis Seekins

Lyndonville
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