STOP WAR ON DRUGS AND DECRIMINALIZE

The newspapers, TV and radio are filled with articles and editorial
comments about war. There is the war with Iraq, the war in Afghanistan, the
war on Terror and so on. But somehow escaping analysis, searching
discussion and serious critique is a war that has caused more American
casualties than all these combined. Yet it drags on with no prospect of
success.

The war on drugs probably was doomed when it started as we mistakenly
proceeded to try to solve a serious health problem with criminal laws,
police forces, diplomatic corps and the even the military. None of them nor
their combination is equal to the task.

After learning the lesson in Prohibition that alcohol problems were not
solvable with criminal laws, we forgot that and pursued the same erroneous
approach with drugs, with the same terrible results. In the last 30 years,
there's been a tremendous increase in crime not only in this country but in
Mexico, Columbia, Venezuela, Turkey and elsewhere. American money funds a
threatening underworld here and abroad. Public officials become corrupt.
Civilian casualties happen daily with endless street shootings, even in
Wilmington, in turf wars. Overstuffed prisons in Delaware and throughout
the country lead to serious budget problems as resources are diverted.

In Baltimore, a mother and five children were burned to death in an alleged
attack by a drug dealer taking revenge for complaints to police.

Will we ever have the political courage to reconsider our situation and
follow the example of the repeal of Prohibition in 1933? When will we
finally learn that criminal laws cannot solve a health problem?

We must balance a legitimate desire to protect people from their own folly
in indulging in drugs against the cost in innocent lives, the waste of
endless prison expansion and the diversion of police and other resources to
provide protection. Even if a few more addicts succumb -- and I doubt if
there would be any increase because drugs are so readily available now --
is that comparable to the loss of an innocent child or a mother and her family?

Let's start a dialogue about decriminalization of drugs and termination of
the drug war.

Begin by decriminalizing marijuana, treating it like tobacco, which have
already killed many more people than marijuana, has. Restrict access by
children, publish warnings and inaugurate more school programs explaining
the dangers of drugs. At least this would sever the threatening connections
children establish with dealers of hard drugs when they buy marijuana.
Other states have already taken this step. Delaware should too.