THE CONTINENT LIGHTS UP

America's "War On Drugs" has cost untold billions, made a mockery of the
Bill of Rights and been a total failure. Congratulations to those European
governments that have dropped this bankrupt policy [WORLD, Aug. 20]. The
only ones who ever benefited were the police, the prison industry and drug
dealers.

Richard Weil
St. Paul, Minn.

The U.S. ought to take a page from the book of countries like Belgium, the
Netherlands and Portugal (and a puff or two wouldn't hurt either) and
decriminalize marijuana. Our local, state and federal authorities need to
focus more time and money on the real criminals, not on busting a guy for
possessing a tiny amount of "happy smoke."

Todd Shikora
Pittsburgh, Pa.

Your article about Europeans' legalizing or decriminalizing small amounts
of marijuana does a terrible injustice to the thousands of American parents
who are waging a small war with their children about drug use and abuse.
Marijuana is a gateway drug that leads to the abuse of other drugs. I
should know, since all four of my children started using marijuana and have
progressed over the years to more powerful drugs.

Name Withheld On Request
Volant, Pa.

Although drug use is perhaps morally reprehensible, it should be legalized.
Making drug possession criminal is a hydra, begetting yet more crime.
Through legalization, huge savings can be realized from crime reduction.
Revenues gleaned from taxing legal profits can be used for antidrug
research, and standardized products will reduce drug deaths. Governments
formerly beneath the heel of drug cartels can once again begin to function
for their own constituents.

Donald H. Rudick, M.D.
St. Marys, Pa.