DRUG POLICY FLAWS

Regarding "Task force leader keeps up fight," (4/11, Independence &
Raytown Neighborhood News), the Jackson County Drug Task Force may be
the worst nightmare of drug dealers who actually get busted, but
otherwise the task force unwittingly provides price supports for
organized crime.

Attempts to limit the supply of illegal drugs while demand remains
constant only increase the profitability of drug trafficking. In terms
of addictive drugs like meth, a temporary rise in street prices leads
desperate addicts to increase criminal activity to feed desperate habits.

Make no mistake, the drug war doesn't fight crime, it fuels crime.
With alcohol prohibition repealed, liquor producers no longer gun each
down in drive-by shootings, nor do consumers go blind drinking
unregulated bathtub gin.

Drug policies designed to protect children have given rise to a
youth-oriented black market. Drug dealers don't ID for age. As the
most popular illicit drug, marijuana provides the black market
contacts that introduce youth to drugs like meth. This "gateway" is
the direct result of a flawed policy.

If health outcomes determined drug laws instead of cultural norms,
alcohol would be illegal and marijuana would not. Replacing marijuana
prohibition with adult regulation would effectively undermine the
thriving black market.

Robert Sharpe

Program officer, Lindesmith Center-Drug Policy Foundation

Washington, D.C.