Pubdate: Sat, 28 Apr 2012
Source: Dallas Morning News (TX)
Copyright: 2012 The Dallas Morning News, Inc.
Contact: http://www.dallasnews.com/cgi-bin/lettertoed.cgi
Website: http://www.dallasnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/117
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n239/a01.html

DRUG WAR WASTES TAXES

Re: "Obama isn't loony to oppose drug legalization - Strategies that 
strike a middle ground are best" by Kevin Sabet, Monday Viewpoints.

Don't be fooled by Sabet's vision of a kinder, gentler drug war.

The vast majority of illicit drug users are marijuana smokers, many 
of whom have turned their lives around by putting down the bottle and 
picking up the marijuana pipe.

These former alcoholics no longer wake up with debilitating 
hangovers. They are no longer at risk of drinking themselves to 
death. Because they have chosen a safer alternative to alcohol, they 
now lead productive lives.

Yes, some have substance abuse problems stemming from traumatic life 
experiences. The last thing they need is Big Brother testing their 
bodily fluids and threatening jail time. Forcing pot smokers to 
relapse into alcoholism is not a good use of tax dollars.

The drug war is a cultural inquisition, not a public health campaign.

Robert Sharpe, policy analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom