DIFFERENT APPROACH ON DRUGS

While Connecticut and many other states are trying to figure out how
to close their massive budget shortfalls, the Dutch are trying to
figure out what to do with their closed prisons. While the Netherlands
has a population of about 16.5 million, it has only about 12,000
prisoners. On the other hand, the United States has more than
2,300,000 prisoners. If my math is correct, the U. S. has 18.2 fold
the Dutch general population and 191.6 fold their prison population.
Why the disparity?

I suggest it's our drug policies.

In the Netherlands, adults can use, buy and possess small amounts of
marijuana without criminal sanctions. In the United States, adults are
subject to arrest, jail or prison for buying, selling or possessing
various amounts of marijuana.

Kirk Muse

Mesa, Ariz.