TO: 111th U.S. Congress
Office of National Drug Control Policy

Saturday 16 September 2006

In 1971 the U.S. Postal Service issued a commemorative stamp Scott number 1438 titled PREVENT DRUG ABUSE; but as Post Master General Winton M. Blount stated at the First Day of Issue ceremony “The stamp is not, in fact, a commemorative stamp at all. It is rather, a warning, a plea for help and a call to the American people to take every step to lift up those who have fallen under the use of drugs.” At that time marijuana had been illegal (Prohibition) for thirty-four years. Since then what has occurred? Well marijuana has become more expensive and its cousin hemp has begun entry into the commerce despite efforts by the DEA to stop it. In the 1980’s we have had a cocaine ‘crack’ epidemic. In the 1990’s an epidemic of ECSTASY at the dance club “RAVES” that our youth are drawn to. Now we are experiencing a METH crisis with its main root resulting in an ID theft crisis. Heroin is cheaper and more readily available. Cocaine appears in abundance, too. In these last thirty-four years our country has spent over $400,000,000,000.00 for these results. The drug criminal cartel is more violent and in 1999 made over $1,000,000,000,000.00 with profits exceeding the GDP of most U.N. member nations.

Addiction is a medical condition best treated by doctors; not the police or criminal justice system…

109th U.S. Congress
Office of National Drug Control Policy

Does anybody in this country have any common sense when it comes to this issue? These are not Rambling Rantings of Rhetoric but an essay on the Reality of Regulation for Revenue; just as The Netherlands, Portugal and Spain, as well as Australia and Canada are now realizing and recognizing the full ramifications of the failure of prohibition.