POT LAWS FUEL METH PROBLEM

Wisconsin'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 alcohol 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
the children.

Throwing more money at the problem is no solution. Attempts to limit the
supply of drugs while demand remains constant only increase the
profitability of trafficking. 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 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. Given that
marijuana is arguably safer than legal alcohol - the plant has never been
shown to cause an overdose death - it makes no sense to waste tax dollars
on failed policies that finance organized crime and facilitate the use of
hard drugs.

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

ROBERT SHARPE

Policy analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, D.C.