REASONS EXIST TO DECRIMINALIZE DRUGS

I wish to analyze the possible benefits of decriminalizing all drugs.
Yes, all drugs (heroine, crack cocaine, etc.).

By decriminalizing drugs, I mean have them sold through any pharmacy by
a pharmacist (at controlled prices) who would give verbal and written
instructions regarding the proper use and danger of the preparation.
Under this system, any person having harmed another while under the
influence of a drug or drugs that were being used without a current
physician's prescription would be prosecuted.

There is certain to be drug abusers as there are today. From my
experiences as a jail physician, addiction is voluntary and
psychological, and it can be reversed without harm by stopping "cold
turkey." Addicts and abusers can and should be guided by continual
education -- not legislation.

Probably the greatest benefit of decriminalizing drugs would be the loss
of millions of dollars to the drug cartels who use the money to buy
weapons for the use of armies (legal and illegal) in order to control
governments, Peru and Columbia are two good examples. Money from these
cartels used for the corruption of law enforcement agencies would not be
available. Additional benefits are:

* Addicts would not need to resort to mugging to obtain money for
drugs, since they could be obtained at an affordable price.

* Street gangs would not be needed to control their district for the
sale of drugs and thus would be eliminated.

* Organized criminals who use violence and even murder to collect their
money and control their territory would also be eliminated, since drugs
would be cheap and easy to obtain -- no profit, no gangs.

* Teen-agers, noted for wishing to defy the law, would have no law to
defy. Their need to show off would be eliminated.

* Accidental drug overdose, due to mixing drugs or use of impure street
drugs obtained illegally, would be greatly reduced. Deliberate overdoses
or deliberate attempts at suicide often occur with drugs obtained by
prescription. With drugs and needless being cheap, there would be no
need to share needles, and I feel the IV users (shooters) would be fewer
in number.

* There would be no need to send drug enforcement agents to foreign
countries, where many have been murdered and government officials would
not need to be assassinated.

* Spending $4 million and killing 400 civilians and 24 American
servicemen to kidnap a foreign official would not be necessary.

* By using parole and probation, prisons and jails could be emptied of
inmates convicted only of victimless drug crimes, thus saving more
millions of dollars for education and leaving room for violent
criminals.

As to the harm from drug use, there are numerous studies and examples
that are contradicting one another. As taught by my pharmacology
professor, "all drugs are poisons" but can be life-saving if used
properly.

Examples:

Marijuana relieves pain, suffering and nausea.

Red wine helps to reduce cholesterol.

In conclusion, the study of history (1920-32) reveals that the use of a
drug cannot be stopped, no matter how intensely a law is enforced.

Carl A. Roden, M.D.

Hamilton