IT'S TIME TO LOOK AT LEGALIZING SOME DRUGS

To the Editor:

Thanks to Robert Sharpe (2/1/02) for a realistic view on the drug problem
facing both NE and our nation. Our noble attempt at eliminating alcohol (a
dangerous and addictive drug that kills over 100,000 Americans a year) was
a miserable failure. Over 30 years of marijuana prohibition has done
nothing but fill our prisons, ruin thousands of lives, and cost billions of
dollars. It seems our governments efforts at dictating morality (the job of
family and Church) are as effective as police efforts at drug education and
prevention (the job of families and schools). Authorities admit at best
they are intercepting only 10 percent of illegal drugs. Would we continue
to support an education program that produces a 10 percent literacy rate
when proven models are available at less cost and a much higher success rate?

In The Netherlands where cannabis has been legal in coffee shops for over
25 years, they have achieved use and abuse rates half that of the U.S. for
both cannabis and hard drugs. Coffee shops offer no or few possibilities
for purchasing illicit drugs other than cannabis. Thus The Netherlands
achieve a separation of the soft drug market from the hard drugs market —
and separation of the 'acceptable risk' drug user from the 'unacceptable
risk' drug user. We choose to lump all illegal "drugs" from hemp granola to
meth in the same category while accepting killers like booze and tobacco.
This sends a confused message to our kids and everyone else. While
preaching to the world about "freedom" we incarcerate over one fourth of
all the world's prisoners. It is time we put as much faith in our
Constitution as our forefathers did and let it do its job.

STEVE EVANS
Crete