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Recently a San Diego Union Tribune newspaper article revealed the State of California spends twice as much on prisons as it does to support the University of California and California State Universities. I was appalled. Both short and long term this policy must be changed, which will not happen without public demand. Why? Politicians fear appearing "soft on crime." Politicians have learned people vote against what and whom they fear far more than we vote for policies we support.

I’m not advocating releasing violent or dangerous prisoners; to the contrary, we will be able to better protect ourselves from predators if we abolish the drug prohibition, which has proven throughout the last ninety-seven (97) years to be a failure from every perspective: in spite of the War on Drugs, more illegal drugs are available now than ever before. Nearly half of our prison population consists of "drug offenders," costing us somewhere between $50 and $100 billion every year to investigate, prosecute and warehouse suppliers and abusers of illegal drugs. As the inmate population ages costs of medical care continue to increase.

Driving under the influence of any intoxicating substance, whether alcohol, marijuana, heroin or other drugs, is a crime because it creates an unreasonable risk of injury to others. But private intoxication using alcohol is legal; in a free society, the pursuit of happiness is based on our personal choices – using recreational drugs is a personal right that cannot – as a practical matter – and should not be limited to alcohol and tobacco because they are no safer nor less toxic than marijuana, cocaine or heroin.

If we legalize and tax marijuana, cocaine and heroin along with other recreational drugs, we can accomplish several critical goals: (1) save $50 - $100 billion annually that is being wasted in the futile War on Drugs, which merely maintains massive un-taxed profits for the drug cartels; (2) reduce the prison population by nearly half, focusing on control and, where possible, rehabilitation, of dangerous offenders; (3) by regulating and taxing recreational drugs revenue is generated to treat addicts and educate the public truthfully concerning the effects of all types of drug use, including alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, etc.

Only education and treatment can reduce drug abuse and only legalization with high taxes will generate revenue to pay for health costs, education, treatment and civil commitment for those whose drug abuse causes or threatens injury to others. 

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