Pubdate: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 Source: DrugSense Weekly (DSW) Website: http://www.drugsense.org LETTER OF THE WEEK DRUG WAR IN U.S. WAGED WITH FANFARE, BUT NO VICTORY IN SIGHT By Walter Hoffman For some four decades or more the federal government has been waging a "war" on narcotic drugs. Presidents have come and gone, all swearing to control the use of such drugs and appoint drug czars with great fanfare to wage this "war," only to have such czars fade away into oblivion without victory in sight. During this time our prisons have become filled to overflowing with minor drug dealers and users; entire nations have become narco-states in order to supply the world's demand for these drugs; and we are spending $40 billion annually on trying to control this supply ( The Economist, March 7). All with what result? Today, our neighbor to the south, Mexico, is becoming a narco-state, with the drug cartels controlling much of the law enforcement, judicial and the political bodies of the state; the tentacles of these cartels are now reaching into the United States where they control the drug traffic and are certainly suborning many of our law enforcement officials; drugs may be purchased at many street corners throughout our nation; the Taliban in Afghanistan is financed by the opium trade in their war against us; and we continue to spend millions of dollars without any hope of overcoming this problem. The solution? Legalize these controlled substances and establish government operated stores to dispense retail amounts of these drugs at prices that would damp down their use while discouraging a black market. Such a move would not only put the drug lords out of business but also transform drugs from a law and order problem into a public health problem. Proceeds from the sale of these drugs would be used to educate the public. Walter Hoffman Polk City Pubdate: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 Source: Ledger, The (Lakeland, FL) - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake