WAR AGAINST DRUGS IS FUELING CRIME

Florida's hazardous methamphetamine labs are reminiscent of the
deadly exploding liquor stills that sprang up during alcohol
prohibition. Drug policies modeled after alcohol prohibition have
given rise to a youth-oriented black market.

Illegal drug dealers don't ID for age, but they do recruit minors
immune to adult sentences.

Throwing more money at the problem is no solution. Attempts to limit
the supply of drugs while demand remains constant only increase the
profitability of drug trafficking.

For addictive drugs like meth, a spike in street prices leads
desperate addicts to increase criminal activity to feed desperate
habits. The drug war doesn't fight crime, it fuels crime.

Taxing and regulating marijuana, the most popular illicit drug, is a
cost-effective alternative to never-ending drug war. As long as
marijuana distribution remains in the hands of organized crime,
consumers will continue to come into contact with sellers of hard
drugs like meth.

This "gateway" is the direct result of a fundamentally flawed policy.

Given that marijuana is arguably safer than legal alcohol -- the
plant has never been shown to cause an overdose death -- it makes no
sense to waste tax dollars on failed policies that finance organized
crime and facilitate the use of hard drugs.

Robert Sharpe

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, D.C.