Many times I have heard people on this list say the "drug" problems we are currently experiencing on the streets of a select group of neighborhoods in Mpls. would all just go away if drugs were legalized." You are absolutely correct. However, they aren't legal and as a result streets like mine have been the supermarkets for them. With all due respect it feels almost condescending to hear people from neighborhoods that do not experience this travesty to say "if they were legal the problem would go away". While we are waiting for the wisdom of the many people who do not live with this problem in their daily lives to "see the light" and push for national legislative changes to our archaic drug laws, I choose not to tolerate the violence and livability issues caused by out of control crack, heroine or meth addicts that terrorize our streets. I also view it as a big slap in the face and counterproductive disconnect when the corner store by my house sells crack pipes or other drug paraphenalia. I know it's not going to encourage or discourage drug use. But, why make it so dang convenient for them? I am irritated that the store owner would be that blatant about their lack of concern for the neighborhood they are doing business in. None of the dozen or more owners of the corner store by my house live anywhere near this neighborhood. They leave here at night and go to the comfort of their home in the suburbs somewhere or in a neighborhood that doesn't contend with drug problems. My history with the corner store owners that sell drug paraphanelia is that in all likelihood they are also selling drugs under the counter, fencing stolen goods, running prostitutes, commiting EBT fraud and other livability crimes. I am not making a general statement about every corner store in Mpls. I am just stating that my personal experience with the store by my house has been that "where there is smoke, there is fire". Barb Lickness Whittier
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