DRUGS WON THE WAR

Re: Canada’s illicit drug trade growing, March 3.

So if I read this article correctly, all the billions of dollars
spent on the “war on drugs” in the United States and Canada has
resulted in a growth in the trade.

The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) spokesperson then
goes on to say what a “professional” job the RCMP and the Canadian
government have done in combating drug trafficking.

This raises a couple of questions: are illicit drugs harder to find
than they were 30 years ago when the “war on drugs” started? No. Has
scarcity even made the price go up? Again no.

So, in other words, prohibition has completely failed and, in fact,
has caused a great deal of harm by criminalizing a large segment of
the population for use of a relatively harmless herb (marijuana).

Compare this to the approach toward cigarettes, a legal product
guaranteed to kill 50 per cent of its consumers.

Tobacco is taxed quite heavily. Those taxes pay for education and
smoking cessation programs. And smoking rates have declined
substantially over the same 30-year period.

So, you would think that, if your real goal was to reduce illicit
drug use, the “professional” approach would be to admit that
prohibition has failed and try legalization, regulation, taxation,
and education. Of course, that might threaten those “drug and related
budgets” which the INCB insist must be maintained. If they actually
solved the problem, a whole lot of “enforcers” would need new jobs.

Scott Kelland

Merrickville

Pubdate: Sat, 5 Mar 2011

Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON)

Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n147/a07.html

BILL COULD LEGALIZE, REGULATE MARIJUANA USE

A Solid and Sensible Case for Legalization

Thank you for making such a solid and sensible case for the
legalization and regulation of marijuana [“Legalize marijuana,”
Opinion, Feb. 20].

As Seattle’s police chief for six years, and as a law-enforcement
officer for nearly three decades before that, I saw more than enough
on the front lines of the drug war to convince me that it’s time to
end marijuana prohibition.

In addition to powerful economic and civil-rights arguments,
marijuana legalization will allow law enforcement to focus on
preventing and solving crimes against persons and property.
Legalization will eliminate a huge, untaxed revenue source for gangs
and cartels whose members never hesitate to use violence against each
other, the police and innocent citizens in order to protect their
illicit profits.

Our state’s lawmakers have an opportunity to do the right thing
locally while also taking a powerful leadership role in the national
movement to end marijuana prohibition. For doubters and proponents
alike, The Times’ editorial should be required reading.

Norm Stamper, Eastsound

Pubdate: Wed, 23 Feb 2011

Source: Seattle Times (WA)

Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n000/a010.html

A BUDGET SAVING IDEA: END THE WAR ON DRUGS

One area of the federal budget that should be cut is the money spent
to fight the drug wars. Primarily, this means decriminalizing personal
drug use by peaceful adults and regulating the sale of currently
illegal drugs. Whether we are talking about controlled drugs or
prescription drugs, it should not be a civil or criminal offense for
peaceful and honest adults to ingest any substance.

If a person drives a vehicle while intoxicated or commits crimes to
support a drug habit, that is a different situation, and it is a
proper role of government to protect citizens against the real threats
to physical harm by others. It is also a proper role of our government
to protect children. But, we should not wreck the futures of peaceful
adults by giving them a criminal record for drug use.

You can drink as much alcohol as you want in your home or at a bar (as
long as you don’t drive while intoxicated), and that is your personal
business, and it has no effect on your ability to get or keep a job or
to serve in the military or to get an education. But, if you get
caught using drugs, you will have significant problems in all of those
areas. That is not right, it is not just and is a wrongful
infringement on our liberties.

Kurt Johnson, Urbandale

Pubdate: Sat, 19 Feb 2011

Source: Des Moines Register (IA

DRUG WAR PROFITS AT STAKE

Thomas Ravenel’s Feb. 5 commentary regarding legalizing drugs gives me
grave concern. Legalization could severely impact the socio-economic
fabric of our state. He asks, ‘Has all that incarcerating (of drug
users) helped?’

Yes! The Drug War ‘industrial complex’ is thriving.

South Carolina law enforcement agencies, criminal courts and prison
systems are expanding. As a defense attorney, I fear legalization
could reduce the number of employed prosecutors, public defenders and
judges who handle drug cases. Judges and lawyers would come off
government payrolls. I say, let’s keep them in state and federal courts.

Drug legalization could devastate rural communities where prisons
employ thousands. We need a steady source of convicted drug users as a
stimulus for these communities. Otherwise, we better have a plan for
out-of-work guards, prison builders, food service workers and
administrators.

When non-violent drug offenders are convicted on felony charges, we
don’t have to compete with them for scholarships or jobs.

Maybe the money saved by rationally downsizing the Drug War industrial
complex, could be diverted to drug addiction programs, re-training
prison workers for ‘green’ or education jobs.

Money could be used for infrastructure instead of prisons.

The original goals of prohibition — to reduce drug use, protect kids
and reduce crime — are no longer important.

The Drug War ‘gravy train’ may defy logic, but it sure is good for the
economy.

Guy J. Vitetta

Attorney at Law

Seven Farms Drive

Daniel Island

Pubdate: Wed, 9 Feb 2011

Source: Post and Courier, The (Charleston, SC)

Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n073/a01.html

BROKE CALIFORNIA IS WASTING MONEY ON BUSTS

It has been 15 years, and law enforcement still thinks the medical
marijuana laws are confusing. As long as marijuana is not taxed and
regulated like booze and tobacco, this is going to happen. Law
enforcement has to do this to prop up their belief in reefer madness.
They will always look for a way to trip up those dope-smoking hippies
and throw them in jail. It is interesting that law enforcement
doesn’t get paid extra for going after murderers and rapists, but
they do get federal dollars for targeting marijuana. This current
bust (“The road ahead is filled with potholes,” Jan. 27) cost about a
million taxpayer dollars. I would have rather seen this money going to schools.

When my wife had cancer, marijuana sure helped her through the rough
times. I wonder what those involved in the bust will do when one of
their loved ones needs medical marijuana.

When marijuana is regulated like booze and the laws are well defined,
this will end, but until then some cop will be spending taxpayer
money trying to find ways around Proposition 215 and SB 420. Our
state is broke; we can’t continue to waste money this way. Does
anybody feel any safer since this bust went down?

Gary Gall

Cambria

Pubdate: Thu, 3 Feb 2011

Source: New Times (San Luis Obispo, CA)

Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n000/a006.html

A LIFE WITHOUT PAIN

Re “Puff piece” by Nick Miller (SN&R Feature, January 20):

I just read your article and I only wanted to comment on one thing: I
was raised by Mr. Mackey’s motto: “Drugs are bad!”

I was hit by a car at age 13 and afterward suffered from terrible
headaches, nausea that ruined my ability to hold down a job or spend
time with my children. I missed out on so much because of my head
injury. Finally, after feeling like a guinea pig for years on drugs
that were “legal” but did no good, I tried marijuana. Not only did
the pain become tolerable, but the nausea was relieved, and I found
not only could I spend time with my family but I could also hold down
a job (part time). The gratitude I felt was enormous. Finally, I
could live a real life!

I hope someday people who don’t need marijuana will understand that
there are people out there who do. We are law-abiding, regular people
who just hope for a life without pain and discomfort. We pay our
taxes, we stop at red lights, we don’t rob liquor stores. We just
want to feel like everyone else does: Fine.

Kristi Caye

via e-mail

Pubdate: Thu, 27 Jan 2011

Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n040/a01.html

Source: Sacramento News & Review (CA)

ANOTHER CASUALTY OF THE DRUG WAR

RE “Homicide fight centers on drug trade” (Page A1, Jan. 12): During
a raid of a suspect’s Dorchester home, one detective, spotting a
child, says, “Let him sleep. Because he’ll never forget it.” You can
bet that 4-year-old will never forget seeing his father dragged off
and his house ransacked. One of every three African-American males
born today will have similar contact with the legal system, mostly
because of the so-called war on drugs, a trillion-dollar,
multi-decade crusade that has made no dent in either the supply of or
the demand for drugs.

The pathos in Maria Cramer’s article is heartbreaking, as unemployed
carpenters and other nonviolent folk do exactly what their
hard-pressed predecessors did nearly a century ago during the
violence-creating era of Prohibition. The predictable,
community-destroying violence stems not from the drugs, but from the
policy of prohibition.

Are murderous gangsters dealing alcohol or cigarettes?

Bill Fried

Somerville

Pubdate: Tue, 18 Jan 2011

Source: Boston Globe (MA)

Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n000/a004.html

WAR ONLY ON CERTAIN DRUGS

Re: “Losing the drug war,” by Charles Guerriero, Saturday Letters.

Guerriero writes, “American drug policy toward marijuana yields
nearly one million arrests annually; nine of 10 are for personal
possession. We have nothing to show for all this madness, as
marijuana is easier to obtain than alcohol for minors and use has
only risen since the Controlled Substances Act of 1970.”

I am a social liberal and a fiscal conservative, and I do not believe
that the War On Certain Drugs has helped this country one bit. Study
after study proves that tobacco and alcohol kill millions and that
marijuana kills no one.

Paraphrasing the words of a columnist from years ago: “Alcohol makes
people violent. Marijuana just makes people hungry and boring.”
Alcohol is legal and should be. So should marijuana.

There is no reason whatsoever for our government to spend time,
resources, or manpower fighting against it. Republicans, wake up. You
drink beer or wine or whiskey.

You know you do. Those who smoke marijuana are doing the same thing.

Duh. Stop spending my money on the War On Certain Drugs.

Michael Casey, Garland

Pubdate: Fri, 14 Jan 2011

Source: Dallas Morning News (TX)

Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n000/a002.html

PROHIBITION ENABLES DEADLY DRUG TRADE

A Dec. 30 Columbian story “Safe streets” declared “For this story
we’ve looked at just three serious crimes, the kind folks might worry
about. We added assaults, burglaries and drug crimes for each area.”

Excuse me? There weren’t enough rapes and murders so The Columbian
decided to fall back on the old standby “drugs”? What exactly is a
drug crime? Is DUI a drug crime? Is standing too close to the doorway
of a business while smoking tobacco a drug crime?

The words “drug” and “crime” would not be found in the same sentence
if this ludicrous prohibition would end. Turf wars, crack babies and
a large percentage of juveniles using illegal drugs would be a thing
of the past. These issues aren’t of drugs but the illicit trade
prohibition propagates and the threat of criminal prosecution that
limits an abuser’s resources for help. The near 30,000 people killed
in Mexico haven’t been about drugs, but money.

Drug abuse is a social-health issue … a crime? The only major drug
crimes that come to my mind are the Harrison Act, Marijuana Tax Act
and the Controlled Substance Act – crimes of a nation against its citizens.

Jim Kennedy

Vancouver

Pubdate: Tue, 4 Jan 2011

Source: Columbian, The (WA)

Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n000/a073.html