Pubdate: Fri, 23 Aug 2013
Source: Houston Chronicle (TX)
Copyright: 2013 Houston Chronicle Publishing Company Division, Hearst Newspaper
Contact:  http://www.chron.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/198
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n419/a01.html
Author: John L. Indo

DRUG WAR

Regarding "Feds should follow" (Page B11, Sunday), the so-called war 
on drugs is a foolish endeavor that we cannot win. It is time that we 
changed our perspectives on the issue.

The drug cartels are now so big and powerful, so wealthy, so 
well-armed that they can easily buy off public authorities and 
corrupt public policies.

Forty years ago when drug abuse threatened to become a major public 
issue, we should have decriminalized illicit drugs immediately and 
made immense efforts to educate the public against them. But no. We 
chose to push them underground where the prices went sky high and the 
demand continued to grow. Now we face international drug cartels that 
threaten the very security of our country.

Have we not learned from Prohibition that we cannot suppress 
something that people want and will pay money to get? A 
self-righteous policy like this only fails in the long run. We must 
pursue a more prudent anti-drug policy.

John L. Indo, Houston
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom