Pubdate: Mon, 01 Oct 2001
Source: Chicago Tribune (IL)
Copyright: 2001 Chicago Tribune Company
Contact:  http://www.chicagotribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/82
Author: Jeff Meyers

END DRUG WAR

In order to wage an effective war against terrorism, the United States must 
re-examine its priorities and stop wasting valuable resources on failed 
policies. The war on drugs comes to mind.

Instead of going after madmen who do real damage, the U.S. Drug Enforcement 
Administration spends roughly half of its $20 billion annual budget to hunt 
down and arrest pot smokers. In normal times, this is lunacy; today, it is 
unforgivable.

The thousands of highly trained DEA agents assigned to keep America safe 
from marijuana should be redeployed. In this time of crisis, they would 
serve their country and its citizens more appropriately as sky marshals, 
border agents and security guards.

Jeff Meyers,
Oak View, Calif.
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MAP posted-by: Rebel