Facts and folly in the war on some drugs

Loretta Nall has a whole raft of great stories this week and points us to some good press on a couple of our favorite reformers. First up is Peter Christ of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition who will be meeting with community groups and Luzerne County Commissioner Greg Skrepenak in Pennsylvania. The county is willing to listen to Christ in an attempt to address the growing problem of prison overcrowding caused by the incarceration of non-violent substance consumers.

Peter has the talking points down to an art, telling the commissioner "To continue on the course we are on is futile and a threat to our society. We've created the obscene profit in drugs by making them illegal. Legalizing drugs and regulating them controls cost, access and drug profits." He goes on to point out, "This drug war has never been right and has never done what it has promised."

Meanwhile, our old friend Howard Wooldridge (another speaker for LEAP) is also making the rounds in PA and is interviewed in Pittsburgh. Howard, who will be undertaking another cross-country horseback tour soon tells the press,

"What grinds me up is the way law enforcement people perpetuate the lie that arresting drug dealers will make a difference in the availability and strength of drugs," he said. "The smugglers are smart enough to factor in a loss of maybe 20 percent of a shipment. So even when there's a big bust, they just ship more."

Keep in mind these guys are former cops who worked on the front lines of the drug war. If you can't believe them who are going to believe?

In other news, I hear Loretta was the first to post this and I'm probably the last, but this dunderheaded proposal should not go unremarked by any one of us. Republican state senator of Montana, Sen. Chuck Gross is proposing legislation to prevent public school sporting events from being held in cities that have enacted decrim resolutions for marijuana. Note that I said decrim, not legalize. Gross (appropriate name there) is targeting the city of Colombia specifically for lowering (but not eliminating) fines and penalties for possession.

Typical Republican response these days for any war, whether it be Iraq or drugs. Punish everyone collectively and severely for the possible infractions of a few. No wonder they're losing on every front.