Pubdate: Tue, 23 Mar 2010
Source: Wall Street Journal (US)
Copyright: 2010 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.wsj.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/487
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n182/a06.html
Author: Suzanne Wills

DRUG WAR: A DESTRUCTIVE, IMMORAL DOMESTIC POLICY

Your assertion that the cost of drug legalization would be "far 
higher addiction rates as cocaine and heroin became routinely 
available and their price fell dramatically" ignores what has 
occurred since the early 1970s when the drug war began. The 
percentage of Americans who have used an illegal drug has gone from 
less than 5% to about 40%. The cost of one dose of street heroin has 
gone from $6 to 80 cents while purity has gone from about 1.5% to 
nearly 40%. The only drug that has decreased in use during the drug 
war is tobacco. The percentage of tobacco users has decreased from 
about 65% during World War II to about 20% today. Tobacco has never 
been illegal. Americans quit using it for personal reasons. They 
decide whether to use other drugs for the same reasons.

The drug war continues unabated for political and economic reasons. 
It has never reduced drug use or addiction.

Suzanne Wills

Drug Policy Forum of Texas

Dallas 
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