anti-drug policies...

"in sum, we have an antidrug policy that is failing at its own goals and succeeding only in adding to crime. first, there are the heroin and crack addicts, who must steal to support their habits. then, there are the drug merchants who are offered fabulous incentives to provide illicit substances to a willing body of consumers. this in turn contributes to the high rate of inner-city murders and other violence as drug gangs battle for the enormous sums of money available. next, there are the law enforcement officials who, after risking their lives for low salaries, are corrupted by nearly irresistible amounts of money. finally, there are the otherwise law-abiding citizens who are made criminals because they use cocaine, a drug less harmful than tobacco, and those who are made criminals because they use marijuana, a drug that is safer than alcohol and less deadly than aspirin."

*excerpted from the rich get richer, the poor get prison" by jeffrey reiman, pgs.40&41