METH AND OTHER DRUGS SHOULD BE LEGALIZED

To the Editor:

The hazardous methamphetamine labs mentioned in your Jan. 27 editorial are
reminiscent of the deadly exploding liquor stills that sprung up throughout the
nation during alcohol prohibition.

Meth is the latest dangerous drug to be making headlines, but it won't
be the last until policymakers acknowledge the drug war's inherent
failure. 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 push highly profitable, addictive drugs like
meth. Taxing and regulating marijuana, the most popular illicit drug,
is a cost-effective alternative to the $50 billion drug war. 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
enforceable age controls. Right now kids have an easier time buying
pot than beer.

More disturbing is the manner in which marijuana's black market status
exposes users to sellers of hard drugs. Marijuana may be relatively
harmless compared to legal alcohol - the plant 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.

Robert Sharpe, M.P.A.

Program Officer,

Drug Policy Alliance,

Washington, D.C.