Regulation the answer for drugs
Letter to the Editor
Stephen Heath
Issue date: 2/20/04 Section: Ed-Op
- Page 1 of 1
Editor:
James Mack Jr. is right on target ("Drug decriminalization will benefit nations, abusers," The Triangle, Feb. 13, p. 13), but the word he is looking for is not "decriminalize," but rather, legalize. He accurately recognizes many benefits of moving the distribution of in-demand drugs to a legal and regulated market. Additionally, we note that such a change would serve an even more important benefit. That is, legalizing drugs will put the criminal dealers out of business.
Illegal drug dealers sell to minors and also recruit them to help sell. Illegal dealers settle disputes with violence in the streets and neighborhoods.
Illegal dealers sell tainted products, which increase the chance of overdose. In the meantime, legal drug dealers like alcohol sellers and pharmacies check for age ID, settle disputes in a civil courtroom and only distribute labeled and accurately measured products.
Additionally, current drug prohibition laws ensure that anyone caught using politically incorrect drugs instead of state-approved alcohol will be thrust into the criminal justice system and given crippling criminal records which last a lifetime.
Most importantly, removing police from the job of being "drug cops" will free up to 50 percent of law enforcement time currently wasted on the never-ending chase of illegal drug dealers and users. That time would be far better used to work on real crimes against persons and property. These would include drunk driving, domestic violence, sex crimes and corporate theft.
Stephen Heath
Florida Office
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition
Clearwater, Fla.
James Mack Jr. is right on target ("Drug decriminalization will benefit nations, abusers," The Triangle, Feb. 13, p. 13), but the word he is looking for is not "decriminalize," but rather, legalize. He accurately recognizes many benefits of moving the distribution of in-demand drugs to a legal and regulated market. Additionally, we note that such a change would serve an even more important benefit. That is, legalizing drugs will put the criminal dealers out of business.
Illegal drug dealers sell to minors and also recruit them to help sell. Illegal dealers settle disputes with violence in the streets and neighborhoods.
Illegal dealers sell tainted products, which increase the chance of overdose. In the meantime, legal drug dealers like alcohol sellers and pharmacies check for age ID, settle disputes in a civil courtroom and only distribute labeled and accurately measured products.
Additionally, current drug prohibition laws ensure that anyone caught using politically incorrect drugs instead of state-approved alcohol will be thrust into the criminal justice system and given crippling criminal records which last a lifetime.
Most importantly, removing police from the job of being "drug cops" will free up to 50 percent of law enforcement time currently wasted on the never-ending chase of illegal drug dealers and users. That time would be far better used to work on real crimes against persons and property. These would include drunk driving, domestic violence, sex crimes and corporate theft.
Stephen Heath
Florida Office
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition
Clearwater, Fla.
