The New York Daily News is a tabloid paper which likes to hype stories for headlines. On June 27, 2010 it ran a story in which Bridget Brennan a special prosecutor in New York says that drug dealers are getting let off easy and being released from prison. I wonder if Ms. Brennan has considered that all the stores in New York which sell tobacco are getting off easy especially when tobacco is America's most addictive and deadly drug? What about liquor stores which sell alcohol America's second most addictive and deadly drug? The deadly effects of cocaine and heroin is nothing compared to tobacco and alcohol, but those substances are taxed and their sale is controlled by the state. Supposing New York legalized drugs and taxed them and controlled the conditions of their sale? From a public health perspective it would be a much more effective and rational policy that the one we have now when we incarcerate drug dealers at the cost of $35,000.00 per year per person. That money could hire a drug counselor to provide treatment for a year to over 200 people.
The New York Daily News is in the business of selling newspapers. It does that by scaring people and getting them emotionally upset. These scare tactic headlines and statements like Bridget Brennan made do nothing to enhance the health, safety, and quality of life in New York. Hopefully discriminating readers will know better than to believe the New York Daily News hype. Unfortunately, I don't think that is the case. I took the poll which accompanies the article which asks the question in a very biased way, is the new law too easy on drug dealers, and 75% of the people said Yes. The answer is No. New York is moving in the right direction in reforming the Rockefeller drug laws. Such news though does not sell papers like the New York Daily News.
You can read the Daily News article by
clicking here.
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