PANEL ENCOURAGES LEGALIZATION OF DRUGS

Leading members from the King County community met last night in the
HUB Auditorium to discuss what has been coined the "War on Drugs."

The discussion included socioeconomic and interpersonal effects of
current U.S. drug policy.

Those present, other than interested students, included a lawyer, a
former Seattle police chief and a Seattle city council member, the
three making up the panel.

Students attended in pursuit of a better understanding of the subject,
along with the hope that discussions like these would spur alternative
paths to current U.S. drug policy.

"[The consequences] of the current state of things is simply not
represented enough in the mainstream," said junior Anton Sirotin.

The panel focused on discussing these consequences and providing
alternatives. All supported the legalization of drug use with regulation.

Several organizations, including Physicians for Social Responsibility
(PSR), sponsored the event.

The first to speak was Norm Stamper. With a Ph.D. in leadership and
human behavior, Stamper has 34 years of police experience, seven of
which consisted of overseeing Seattle law enforcement as Seattle
police chief.

His speech began by recalling the beginning of the War on Drugs,
enacted and named by former President Richard Nixon.

This War on Drugs came to represent, moreover, "a war on people,"
without any clear victories to be had, Stamper said.

In a country with 5 percent of the world's population, 25 percent of
those incarcerated in the world are housed in U.S. prisons, Stamper
said.

Thirty five percent of those jailed are in on charges of drug
possession. Along these lines, there are more illegal drugs at cheaper
prices now than at any time in history, he said. In the last year, 1.7
million people were jailed on non-violent drug charges.

"What I choose to put in my body is my own decision," Stamper said.
"It is only when that decision affects others in a negative way should
there be legal intervention."

Larry Gossett, chair of the King County Council, expanded on this
idea.

"A 17-year-old goes to jail on charges of possession for 16-21 months
and comes out harder than the rock he sold," he said.

Although consisting of only 12 percent of the U.S. population, more
than 50 percent of those in jail are African Americans. Of these, 40
percent are there on drug charges, he said.

Rachel Kurtz, deputy director of the King County Bar Association,
offered alternatives to the current U.S. drug policy.

Rather than leave the contents of the drug unknown, legalized drugs
would offer substance information, she said.

These drugs would share the same laws as alcohol, such as limiting
purchasing power to those 21 years old and older.

All panel members supported the idea of diverting law enforcement
funds into community programs, such as clinics dealing with addictions.

Audience members resonated Sirotin's sentiment about increasing
awareness.

"More people need to hear about the issue," said senior Daren Keck.