ENFORCEABLE WEIGHT

Lives In The Balance

I am outraged by ex-Seattle Police Chief Norm Stamper's drive to
legalize drugs ["Legalize drugs -- all of them," guest commentary, Dec. 4,
and see "Uncontrolled substance," Northwest Voices, Dec. 11, and
"Normalizing behavior,"
Northwest Voices, Dec. 18].

Mr. Stamper's proposal to legalize all drugs sends the wrong message
to our communities and children. His idea lacks scientific and medical
backing and leads one to conclude that this is no more than a
publicity stunt to sell his book.

Frankly, I am not buying his argument or his book. The steady decline
of drug use around the country, over the past decade, has been the
result of America's balanced approach toward illicit drugs, which
combines strong law enforcement with prevention and treatment.

Unfortunately, our citizens, in particular the young, are bombarded
with false information on the dangers associated with the use of drugs
- - much like Stamper is doing.

Stamper's proposal would put our communities and children at risk. In
2003, 10.9 million Americans admitted that they drove under the
influence of illegal drugs in the previous year; one in six
high-school students admitted to driving under the influence of
marijuana; in one Oregon county, more than 1,000 children were taken
from methamphetamine-addicted parents.

These are real statistics that would only be exacerbated by Stamper's
poorly thought-out legalization proposal.

Rodney G. Benson,
special agent in charge,
Drug Enforcement Administration (http://www.dea.gov/),
Seattle Field Division