http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/metropolitan/marshall/1010444
The Houston Chronicle, a relatively conservative paper, says to end the war on drugs and regulate drugs.
Being a regular reader of the Houston Chronicle, I will say that Thom Marshall is a bit more liberal than the paper usually is.
The story that Mr. Marshall relates has to do with a shipment of a cocaine/heroin mix that is causing massive overdoses in Northern Houston (matter of fact, the majority of deaths come from two zip codes).
I couldn’t agree more with what he has to say. The war on drugs has failed. ‘Just Say No’ failed. ‘D.A.R.E.’ failed. This is what blew me away the most:
I can say without doubt that in 1995-6 there were massive amounts of drugs being moved through my high school (don’t ask me how I know this, I don’t think the statute of limitations is up yet). Pot was something you did on the way to school. Six school chums rolling a couple of tampon joints and greenhousin all the way to school. That is not to mention the shroom tea, Acid, MDMA or other pharmaceuticals we did from time to time.
So should we legalize drugs? I think so, but with stipulations. Have hash bars, ala Amsterdam, and allow it to be bought and smoked there. Growing is fine in small amounts (say 10 plants). Have an age limit like alcohol.
Will this stop the problems overnight, perhaps not. As a society I think its time we throw off the shackles of conservative thinking. Study after study has shown that users of marijuana are less likely to be in car accidents and have better reaction times. There are fewer marijuana related deaths, than alcohol deaths each year.
I will get off my soapbox now, but I think that this is the time to step in and do something with the so-called ‘War on Drugs’. It isn’t working, and we are spending far too much money on it. Let’s try something different for a change.
And just to cite Thom Marshall’s record on legalization of drugs here are the following examples:
Take up challenge on drug war issue
A bit ill at ease with drug user