To the editor:
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (of marijuana), or LEAP, has more than 2,000 members. Members include prison wardens, judges, mayors and former cops. California judge James Gray advocates decriminalizing marijuana. "That would generate $2 billion annually in tax revenues that could be spent on education and drug treatment," he says (Progressive, August 2005).
Jack Cole, former policeman and co-founder of LEAP, believes that by legalizing drugs and having them supplied by the government, "organized criminals and world terrorists would be monetarily crippled for many years to come."
This is similar to the Swiss approach. Drug users, including users of heroin and cocaine, are not subject to legal penalties. Rather, they are invited to participate in drug treatment programs. Users who initially refuse treatment are directed to obtain drugs in government-operated facilities. Most of these users eventually enter treatment programs.
This compassionate approach certainly differs from that of "Old Testament Christians," brought up with the dictum, "spare the rod and spoil the child!" Being immersed in the punishment model for shaping human behavior they, including many in the Bush administration, are unlikely to understand why or how to try LEAP's alternatives.
Mark Larson,
Lawrence
Comments
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craigers (anonymous) says…
Mark, you could have done without the last paragraph. When you make attacks like that nobody will ever change their minds to side with you. I enjoyed the letter until the attack.
ACP (anonymous) says…
The smart thing to do would be to legalize drugs. But this will never happen. Too many law enforcement agencies get too much money from the illegal drug trade. They get to confiscate almost everything--cars, homes, money etc. They won't give that up. It buys too many toys for the perpetuation of an even tighter police state. They are addicted to the money. Besides, what would they do with all those unemployed DEA agents? Put them to work guarding our borders from dangerous people? (I don't mean hispanics, either)
merrill (anonymous) says…
Thanks Mark for the information. The war on drugs has become a taxpayer money hole. It's time to present a productive plan...thanks again.