Pot times July 17, 2005

The War On Drugs Is History's Biggest Farce

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1128/a06.html
Newshawk: www.ohiopatient.net

Pubdate: Sun, 17 Jul 2005
Source: Blade, The (Toledo, OH)
Copyright: 2005 The Blade
Contact: letters@theblade.com
Website: http://www.toledoblade.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/48
Author: Jim White
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1128/a05.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

THE WAR ON DRUGS IS HISTORY'S BIGGEST FARCE

The Blade's recent editorial supporting the restoration of funds to fight "meth" is proof positive that the Blade is not paying attention.  Time and time again a "drug menace" of one form or another besets our country, and every time we throw more money at the problem, make tougher laws and imprison more people with the same results-more drugs and more people using them. 

Law enforcement and incarceration is no way to control drugs.  History has proven that time and again.  Wake up!

It is time for us to take an entirely different approach to drug use, an approach designed to reduce demand, treat addiction and educate the public. 

The "crack epidemic" of the 80's and 90's didn't go away because we arrested our way out of it, it went away because people finally got wise to what it was doing and use declined.  The same will hold true for the "meth epidemic." If people want amphetamines, prescribe them and monitor their use.  That alone would eliminate illegal labs and the inherent dangers associated with them and it provides an opportunity to help addicts recover. 

The war on drugs is the biggest farce in history and the fourth estate isn't paying attention at all. 

Jim White