OUR DRUG POLICIES COMPLETELY WRONG

To The Editor:

Henderson County's hazardous methamphetamine labs are reminiscent of
the deadly exploding liquor stills that sprang up throughout the
nation during alcohol prohibition.

Drug policies modeled after prohibition have given rise to a
youth-oriented black market. Illegal drug dealers don't ID for age,
but they do recruit minors immune to adult sentences. So much for
protecting children.

Throwing more money at the problem is no solution. Attempts to limit
the supply of illegal drugs while demand remains constant only
increase the profitability.

For addictive drugs like meth, a spike in street prices leads
desperate addicts to increase criminal activity to feed desperate habits.

The drug war doesn't fight crime, it fuels crime.

Taxing and regulating marijuana, the most popular illicit drug, is a
cost-effective alternative to the never-ending drug war.

As long as marijuana distribution remains in the hands of organized
crime, consumers will continue to come into contact with sellers of
hard drugs like meth.

This "gateway" is the direct result of a fundamentally flawed policy.

Drug policy reform may send the wrong message to children, but I like
to think the children are more important than the message.

Robert Sharpe

Washington

Robert Sharpe is policy analyst Common Sense for Drug Policy,
headquartered in Washington.