U.S. NEEDS TO MODEL DRUG POLICY AFTER CZECH REPUBLIC

TO THE EDITOR:

The Czech Republic is the only country in the world where adult
citizens can legally use, possess and grow small quantities of
marijuana (In the Netherlands, marijuana is only quasi-legal).

The Czech drug arrest rate is 1/585 of our drug arrest rate and the
Czech robbery rate is less than 1/72 of our robbery rate.

According to our drug war cheerleaders, tolerant marijuana laws cause
people to use other, much more dangerous drugs; this doesn't happen
in the Czech Republic.

Could it be that when people can legally obtain marijuana at an
affordable price, they tend not to use or desire any other recreational drugs?

Could it be that marijuana legalization actually creates a roadblock
to hard drug use - not a gateway?

Could it be that the vast majority of our so-called "drug-related
crime" is caused by our marijuana prohibition policies?

Should we throw another trillion dollars down the drug war rat hole?
Or should we do something different - dramatically different?

Kirk Muse

Mesa, Ariz.