USERS SUBSIDIZE CRIMES Much of the propaganda in favor of Prop. 36 revolves around the concept of the "nonviolent" drug offender. In reality, however, there is no such person. It must not be forgotten that drug users are drug purchasers, and drug purchasers are accessories to enormous amounts of violence. Their money goes to subsidize a wide array of crimes here and abroad--from local home-invasion robberies to the assassination of Mexican prosecutors. This flow of drug money creates a staggering number of innocent victims as well as widows and orphans. Even though American drug users usually don't pull the triggers in these crimes, they are paying for them and they have to accept partial responsibility for them. This is not to detract from the need and desirability of treatment programs. On the other hand, to remove punishment from those whose actions cause so much harm, even indirectly, is a grave disservice to them as well as to all law-abiding citizens. Martin G. Rosenblatt MD Los Angeles
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