YOU MAY SAY THEY'RE BOTH DREAMERS

If violent paramilitary drug raids and mandatory minimum penalties
deterred illegal drug use, the goal of a "drug-free" America would
have been achieved decades ago. Instead of adding to what is already
the highest incarceration rate in the world, we should be funding
cost-effective drug treatment. Attempts to limit the supply of drugs
while demand remains constant only increase the profitability of
trafficking. For addictive drugs like heroin, a spike in street
prices leads desperate addicts to increase criminal activity to feed
desperate habits.

Drug prohibition finances organized crime at home and terrorism
abroad, which is then used to justify increased drug-war spending.
It's time to end this madness. Apparently mandatory minimum
sentences, civil-asset forfeiture, random drug testing and racial
profiling are not necessarily the most cost-effective means of
discouraging unhealthy choices. Drug abuse is bad, but the drug war is worse.

Robert Sharpe, MPA

Policy Analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy