ELIMINATE DRUG PENALTIES

Re "No jail for users," editorial, April 24

Substance abuse treatment is far more effective when participants are
willing. The problem with Proposition 36 is that it buys into the
fallacy that all use is abuse. There is a big difference between a
weekend pot smoker and an OxyContin addict.

If Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger really wants to save money, he should
champion the decriminalization of personal drug use. Prison cells are
inappropriate as health interventions and ineffective as deterrents.

The success rate of substance abuse treatment would go up dramatically
with the criminal justice system no longer involved. Turnout at
Alcoholics Anonymous meetings would surely be rather low if alcoholism
were a crime. Scarce resources are currently wasted forcing casual
drug users into treatment they don't necessarily need while problem
drug users suffer in silence.

Eliminating the penalties associated with illicit drug abuse would
encourage the type of honest discussion necessary to facilitate
rehabilitation and save lives.

Robert Sharpe

Policy analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington