Pubdate: Thu, 15 Sep 2005
Source: Dispatch (South Africa)
Copyright: 2005 Dispatch.
Contact:  http://www.dispatch.co.za/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2942
Author: Robert Sharpe
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

LIMITING ILLEGAL DRUGS MAKES THEM MORE ATTRACTIVE

CRACKING down on illegal drugs is easier said than done. Attempts to limit 
the supply of illegal drugs while demand remains constant only increase the 
profitability of drug trafficking.

The drug war doesn't fight crime, it fuels crime.

Punitive drug laws have little, if any, deterrent value. Consider the 
experience of the US, the former land of the free and current record holder 
in citizens incarcerated.

Police searches on public transit, drug-sniffing dogs in schools and random 
drug testing have led to a loss of civil liberties in the US, while failing 
miserably at preventing drug use.

The drug war is in large part a war on dagga. Based on finding that 
criminal records are inappropriate as health interventions, a majority of 
European Union countries have decriminalised dagga.

Despite dagga prohibition and perhaps because of forbidden fruit appeal, 
lifetime use of dagga is higher in the US than any European country.

The short-term health effects of dagga are inconsequential compared to the 
long-term effects of criminal records. Unfortunately, dagga represents the 
counterculture to misguided reactionaries intent on legislating their 
version of morality.

South Africa should follow the lead of Europe and Just Say No to the 
American inquisition.

The results of a comparative study of European and US rates of drug use can 
be found at: http://www.monitoringthefuture.org/pubs/espad_pr.pdf

Robert Sharpe, policy analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington DC 
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman