Pubdate: Sat, 23 Mar 2013
Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal (NV)
Copyright: 2013 Las Vegas Review-Journal
Contact: http://www.reviewjournal.com/about/print/press/letterstoeditor.html
Website: http://www.lvrj.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/233
Author: Michael O. Kreps
Page: 9B

WAR ON DRUGS DOES NOTHING BUT HARM

To the editor:

In his March 17 column, Steve Sebelius discussed Nevada Assemblyman 
Joe Hogan's proposed legislation to legalize marijuana in Nevada. Mr. 
Sebelius was spot on in his assessment that it is time to legalize 
the use of marijuana for adults 21 years older and allow possession 
up to one ounce for all uses including recreation.

In the 1970s President Nixon put the "War on drugs" on steroids. 
Having watched and occasionally been involved as a law enforcement 
agent I've seen that the war never decreased the use of illicit drugs 
but instead created more casualties and increased crime.

We created the drug crime syndicates who are responsible for the 
deaths of millions of people over the years and our justice system 
has made criminals out of people who otherwise might be responsible 
citizens but now unable to get a job because of a criminal record.

We have at times with major drug busts pushed the cost of illegal 
drugs to record prices. This has caused local crime such as 
burglaries and robberies to increase in order to pay for the drugs.

We should have learned from the alcohol Prohibition days that you 
couldn't legislate vices. Instead we created modern day Al Capones 
and organized crime syndicates by outlawing drugs.

The only way to slow down drug use in this country is not 
incarceration, but instead to continue to educate the public that 
certain drug use is detrimental to your health. People will continue 
to use drugs like alcohol to escape the reality of everyday society 
and to feel a euphoric high.

MICHAEL O. KREPS Las Vegas
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom