MORE MONEY NO SOLUTION

Editor:

In response to the April 17 Big Sandy News article entitled "Meth Law Is
Unenforceable, Attorney Says": Kentucky's hazardous methamphetamine labs
are reminiscent of the deadly exploding liquor stills that sprung up
throughout the nation during alcohol prohibition. Throwing more money at
the problem is no solution.

Forcibly limiting the supply of illegal drugs while demand remains constant
only increases the profitability of drug trafficking. In terms of 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 and arguably Kentucky's number one cash crop, is a
cost-effective alternative to never-ending drug wars.

There is a big difference between condoning marijuana use and protecting
children from drugs. Decriminalization acknowledges the social reality of
marijuana use and frees users from the stigma of life-shattering criminal
records.

What's really needed is a regulated market with age controls. Right now
kids have an easier time buying pot than beer. Separating the hard and soft
drug markets is critical. Marijuana may be relatively harmless compared to
legal alcohol - pot has never been shown to cause an overdose death - but
marijuana prohibition is deadly. As long as marijuana distribution remains
in the hands of organized crime, consumers will continue to come into
contact with hard drugs like meth.

Drug policy reform may send the wrong message to children, but I like to
think the children themselves are more important than the message.
Opportunistic tough-on-drugs politicians would no doubt disagree.

Robert Sharpe, M.P.A.,
Program Officer Drug Policy Alliance Washington, DC