WAR ON DRUGS PERPETUATED BY PROFITS, ACQUIESCENCE

Editor, the Tribune: Major kudos to Hank Waters for his outstanding column,
"Go-togethers." Our counterproductive war on drugs continues basically for
two reasons:

Some people, institutions and industries have a vested financial interest
in its continuation and expansion.

The vast majority of the people living today were not alive when there was
no such thing as an illegal drug, so we are vulnerable to propaganda and
warnings of dire consequences from the drug warriors. We cannot recall when
people were not robbing, stealing and committing acts of prostitution to
obtain money to purchase drugs.

During alcohol prohibition, most could remember the time before
prohibition. Therefore, alcohol prohibition was repealed.

Kirk Muse

Vancouver, Wash.