POLICY LEADS TO DEATH

The beating death of hairdresser Robin Malta is a perfect illustration
of the folly of our drug laws. Mr. Malta allegedly was killed over a
debt, by someone who had no lawful way to collect.

For other kinds of business transactions, we provide a forum for
dispute resolution: the civil courts, where a creditor can sue a
deadbeat debtor. For drug transactions, that option is not available.
Drug debts must be collected privately, and violence is the
predictable outcome. If the woman accused in his murder had been able
to sue Mr. Malta, he might be alive today.

Meanwhile, as people die needlessly, we spend billions of dollars in
an unsuccessful "war on drugs," which does nothing but wage war on the
lives of drug users and wreak havoc on their families. If drugs were
taxed as legal products, our governments would raise money rather than
squander it, lives would be saved, and money would be available for
treatment of drug addictions.

Robin Malta died because of a failed policy. What a
waste.

Marjorie R. Esman

Executive Director

ACLU and ACLU Foundation of Louisiana

New Orleans