Jim Mork says: Crack:NOT The Problem "Last year, the DEA seized more pounds of meth than either cocaine or marijuana here." And the worst thing about these private homes with meth-labls is that once they shut DOWN the meth-lab, they have to get special environmental cleanup to make the home habitable. I guess, if nothing else, this shows just how little people know about what goes on in other houses. And in the ABSENCE of information, a lot of people just make up what they want to be true.
Peter Schmitz responds: Thank you, Jim, for bringing a sane perspective to this discussion. Three years ago there was a meth lab operating near my neighborhood just west of Lake and Lyndale. Imagine my surprise when on my way home I saw bunches of plastic yellow tape barricading the area. Evidently, this business had been operating for at least several months and most of us living in the area hadn't a clue. Thankfully, a few observant neighbors who were well informed called the police after they had noticed some unusual deliveries to the building (ingredients for crystal meth if my memory serves me correct). Weeks later I read in The Star Tribune that contrary to popular belief, illicit drug use is more prevalent in rural areas than the inner cities. It talked about how most crystal meth users are white and that the drug often causes extreme aggression among its users. (Once in a while an enlightening article picked up from another news bureau manages to sneak into the Strib.) Speaking of drugs and aggressive behavior there's always alcohol . . . Again, the distinctions that most underinformed citizens and politicians make between drugs are political, not clinical. No wonder the best and the brightest of our law enforcement personnel get frustrated. People, don't want to address the most serious problems when it comes to drugs. Meanwhile, women and people of color bear the brunt of the punishment.-----Peter Schmitz CARAG (Where appearances are sometimes deceptive.) REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
