Laserfiche WebLink
464 <br /> <br />TUESDAY. SEPTEMBER 25. 1990 <br /> <br /> .."legalization of the sale and use of drugs would increase <br /> total drug usage due to lower prices and availability." <br /> I believe this premise is flawed. Legalization .of the <br /> sale of certain drugs through a controlled distribution <br /> system such as the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission <br /> could actually reduce the availability of drugs, <br /> especially to those persons least likely to have the <br /> knowledge and experience of what drugs to use and when to <br /> use them, our young people under the age of 21. While <br /> legalization of the sale of certain drugs would probably <br /> lead to lower prices, it would also deprive the criminal <br /> <br />· 'elements in our society of an extremely lucrative <br /> business. For good or evil, money remains a very strong <br /> motivational force in our society. High prices must be <br /> .charged for all of these drugs, and paid for all of these <br /> drugs now, because of therisks of criminal penalties run <br /> by all those involved in the illegal distribution of <br />_..drugs. These high prices have two most unfortunate <br /> consequences. First, they entice persons·into the <br /> business of distributing drugs for the large monetary <br /> rewards available for such activity, and second, they <br /> .necessitate criminal activities on the part of those who <br /> use the drugs to obtain sufficient sums of money-to <br /> pUrchase·the drugs. <br /> <br />Please do not misunderstand me. I do not now, use, nor <br />have I ever, used, any illegal drug, including those <br />.listed .in the resolution. In fact I have only <br />infrequently used prescription drugs. Nor do I advocate <br />the use of any of these drugs by anyone. However, I know <br />that a certain proportion of our population will use <br />these drugs whether they are legal or not. Based on my <br />personal observation of-others, I believe that the drugs <br />listed in the resolution - marijuana, cocaine and heroin <br />- vary considerably in their detrimental effects to their <br />users and their potential for addiction. In the <br />consideration of whether or not to legalize the sale and <br />use of these drugs the significant difference between <br />them should be recognized. Under the terms of the <br />resolution, such differences are not recognized. <br /> <br />The,, resolution states as another of its premises that, <br />"our children have the right to grow up and live in <br />communities which are drug free; and as parents and <br />community leaders we have the obligation to make this <br />happen." However, our community is not drug free even <br />though the sale of all, of the drugs listed is, and has <br />always been, illegal. If the illegal status of these <br />drugs has not eliminated them from our community, how can <br />continuing this illegal status have this result? Would <br />it not be a more' rational approach to acknowledge that <br />_these drugs exist and are used in our community and. to <br /> <br /> <br />