Pubdate: Thu, 24 May 2001 Source: News & Observer (NC) Copyright: 2001 The News and Observer Publishing Company Contact: http://www.news-observer.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/304 Author: J.D. Best Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n778/a05.html (The Drug War Crashes) DRUG WAR CASUALTIES Gail Phares' timely May 8 Point of View article "The drug war crashes" pointed out some of the inherent dangers in our nation's severely flawed drug policy. The downed missionary plane in Peru is just the most recent example of civilians becoming casualties in this futile war. Our government is spending millions of dollars putting nonviolent drug offenders in jail and spraying legal crops with environmentally devastating herbicide. Our marijuana policies are based on 1930s-era legislation that was made with little or no scientific evidence, and drug-prevention campaigns depend on exaggeration and misinformation. Utter disregard for current drug laws is frighteningly reminiscent of Prohibition. Yes, drug abuse must stop, but is this really the best way to do it? J.D. BEST Raleigh - --- MAP posted-by: Josh Sutcliffe