anjeleyes77proud pagan's blog: "Mostly MJ legalization related"

created on 11/30/2006 | http://fubar.com/mostly-mj-legalization-related/b29755

posted on 12/14/2006&nbs-08:00;@&nbs-08:00;03:12&nbs-08:00;pm

I think its time to rethink the failed war on drugs
http://fubar.com/i-think-its-time-to-rethink-the-failed-war-on-drugs/b29755-130958

IT'S TIME TO RE-THINK THE FAILED 'WAR ON DRUGS'
by Paul Armentano, (Source:Detroit News)
07 Dec 2006

Michigan
-------
Hats off to Nolan Finley for highlighting America's failed and
colossally expensive "war" on illicit drug use ( "Subject drug war to
the Iraq war test," Nov. 19. ) For nearly 100 years, starting with the
passage of America's first federal anti-drug law in 1914, lawmakers
have relied on the mantra: "Do drugs, do time." The human and fiscal
consequences of this policy have been a disaster.

America now spends nearly $50 billion dollars per year targeting,
prosecuting and incarcerating illicit drug users. As a result, today
there are more illicit drug offenders behind bars -- more than 450,000
by last count than the entire U.S. prison population in 1980. For
marijuana alone, law enforcement spends between $7 billion and $10
billion dollars annually targeting users -- primarily low-level
offenders, and taxpayers spend more than $1 billion annually to
incarcerate them. Yet, illicit drugs remain cheaper and more plentiful
than ever. If American lawmakers want to take a serious look at our
nation's war strategies, let them begin by reassessing their failed
drug war here at home.

Paul Armentano

Senior Policy Analyst

NORML Foundation

Washington, D.C.

MAP posted-by: Richard Lake

Pubdate: Thu, 07 Dec 2006

Source: Detroit News (MI)

Copyright: 2006, The Detroit News

Contact: letters@detnews.com
Website: http://detnews.com/

Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/126

Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n1566/a07.html

Author: Paul Armentano

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