NEW DRUG POLICY

In 1991, President Bush said, "If we've learned anything in this past
quarter century, it is that we cannot federalize virtue."

The war on drugs tries to federalize virtue with prohibitions. In 1933, we
stopped Prohibition with repeal of the 18th Amendment. The Supreme Court's
latest consistent line of decisions has been aimed at restricting federal
power in favor of states' rights.

Isn't it time for Congress to delegate authority to the 50 states to
prohibit or authorize any drug?

The media would howl "Chaos!" A few states might prohibit all drugs,
including alcohol and tobacco. A dozen states might authorize marijuana. A
few states might study and use Switzerland's policy of authorized on-site
use of hard drugs (rates of crime by drug users dropped from 69 percent to
10 percent; their rate of employment more than doubled!).

Different state policies would produce different changes in state
prosperity and crime. The states with the best results would be copied by
other states wanting to have their share of the benefits with the least
harm to the culture.

We need a sound policy on drugs. Let rates of prosperity and minimum crime
help to define the best policies.

Clark Hosmer, Shalimar