DRUG ARRESTS MOUNT AS 'WAR' FAILS TAXPAYERS

To the Editor:

I'm writing about your cogitative editorial, "Where's Plan B?" (Jan. 3
Post-Standard). One has to go no further than New York to realize we
must decriminalize sales. Decriminalization of possession of marijuana
in New York in 1977 has been a failure.

Drug arrests went from 24,400 in 1980 to 145,700 in 2000. Essentially,
the recreational/personal user became the target of law
enforcement.

The decrease in crime figures for New York does not include the
six-fold increase of drug arrests, which shows how very badly our
"tough on crime" politicians have failed the taxpayer.

Larry Seguin

Lisbon