MADISON RESIDENTS QUESTION WAR ON DRUGS

Widespread frustration with the decade-old War on Drugs has some Madison
leaders and students questioning its policies and considering change.
Madison Public Safety Review Board member Connie Ferris Bailey said she has
her doubts about the overall effectiveness of the drug war.

"Has the United States government's war on drugs accomplished a reduction
in drug usage?" Bailey asked. "I am too ill-informed to simply say legalize
drugs. But I am able to see the financial and social ramifications drugs
have on our society." According to the student group Common Sense for Drug
Policy, the drug war has created a system of prohibition designed to
suppress criminal markets.

"It's a real war," CSDP President Eric Hogenson said. "A war that involves
propaganda and manipulation of facts. People are dying."

Overcrowded jails, violence associated with distribution of drugs and
losing generations of potentially productive young people is what drives
Bailey and other community members to fight for drug policy changes,
Hogenson said.

"Our group is not an outright promoter of drug legalization," Hogenson
said. "It's sort of a dirty word. We are advocates of taking a hard look at
our current drug policies."

Likewise, Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said he encourages the city
government to reevaluate its drug enforcement tactics and policies.

"People who are in no way drug dealers that get caught up in pretty
heavy-duty charges are a waste of the criminal justice system and
taxpayers' money," Verveer said.

Bailey said she has a possible solution to the problems of the drug war.

"What would happen if you took criminality out of drug sales?" she asked.
"Would this possibly decrease addiction, the number of arrests, the amount
of violence and the loss of young people?"

Madison Police Captain Ellen Schwartz argues that this conclusion is too
simplistic.

"This issue is much more complex than 'decriminalize drug sales and all our
problems will be solved' or 'lock up all drug dealers and everything will
go away,'" Schwartz said. "But there is definitely room for reconsideration
of how business is done."

Hogenson said education needs to be the primary goal among all members of
the Madison community interested in re-assessing current drug policies.

"The first step is definitely education and awareness," Hogenson said. "The
public needs to understand that drugs affect everyone, even if you hate
drugs."

Schwarz agreed that education is important, but reiterated she does not
believe drug laws should go unenforced.

"I think that we have tried to take a balanced approach in terms of
education and suppression," she said.

Bailey said the key to changing policies and educating the public is to
bring various parts of the community together to rationally deal with the
problem.

"I'm hearing across the political spectrum that if we take a
non-judgmental, logical approach to this subject, then some positive
changes could take place," Bailey said.

Hogenson said "so-called radicals" are no longer the only group concerned
with drug policies.

"It's not this lefty hippie s--," he said. "Even the governor of New
Mexico, a Republican, is in favor of legalizing drugs."

UW-Madison sophomore Betsy Schaller said she had concerns about what would
transpire if currently prohibited substances are legalized.

"Drug legalization is an inevitable step," sophomore Betsy Schaller said.
"But I am not sure, with the mentality of the United States, if the country
can handle the initial consequences of it. They would probably not wait
long enough to see the real outcome of legalization."

Although Verveer does not entirely agree with the drug war, legalization
still seems a bit far-fetched to him.

"Given prevailing societal attitudes towards drugs, I don't think
legalization is going to happen anytime soon," he said.

Schwartz said policies are currently being reviewed and discussed with the
community, and Bailey is hopeful about this interaction.

"Whatever comes out of this type of analysis will have an impact nation
wide," she said.

"If it will have a direct influence on our laws I don't know, but I'm
optimistic."