DECRIMINALIZE DRUG USE

For 40 of my 65 years I've conducted an informal survey among law
enforcement acquaintances including active or retired FBI agents,
large and small town beat cops, detectives, etc.

I've asked over 25 of them just one question: "In your opinion, what
percentage of violent crime in this country is narcotics-related?"

Not surprisingly, the lowest number I heard was 50 percent, the
highest 90 percent, and the average well above 75 percent. Thus the
solution to your escalating crime problem.

Why not decriminalize drugs?

Am I advocating drug use? Absolutely not, but the facts are clear
that we have numerous users who will go to any lengths to get their fixes.

Prohibition seemed to spawn excessive violence and once repealed the
problem dissipated.

Do we still have alcoholics? Of course and we'll still have drug
users, but if the money is taken out of it, i.e., drug users pay a
nominal amount for drugs, there will be no market for the stuff much
to the chagrin of Colombia, Afghanistan and our local meth labs, etc.

Will this proposal ever fly? Probably not in my lifetime for the
following reasons:

1. Politically it would be viewed as instant suicide with the
opposition screaming that we're advocating more drug use. Likewise
the solution is SIMPLE and that won't get you points in the public arena.

2. Law enforcement wouldn't want it, i.e., diminished crime means less jobs.

3. Religious conservatives wouldn't be happy, claiming that they can
rid all people of drug and alcohol addictions which just ain't gonna happen.

The bottom line is we definitely aren't winning the war on drugs and
the reason is there's just too much profit to be made.

If you posit that the average person doesn't want to be beholden to
substances that are addictive, and posit that a small percentage of
the population will always be drug users, this solution appears to be
a practical and money saving idea.

Children born today in the more impoverished areas (especially boys)
have three ways out. One is to be an elite athlete and maybe make it
professionally (very long odds).

Two is to study hard in arguably inferior schools as a means of
escape (not cool by today's standards).

Three is to follow the drug culture, i.e., big profits with big risks
but definitely cool and exciting.

The problem with number three is obviously the slammer which far too
many seem to end up in.

Tom Buehler

Fort Myers