WRONG DRUG WAR ONUS

In response to James V. Roach's comments ("Fruitless Drug War" Forum, July
24), I completely agree that the tragic and pointless death of Roosevelt
Police Chief Cecil Gurr is another sad part of prohibitionist drug
policies. Current drug policies do not adequately address the violence and
addiction problems associated with the illegal drug market. And they never
will.

As long as the solution criminalizes users, crime will be a fundamental
element of the use of an illegal drug. Even an otherwise law-abiding
citizen becomes a criminal merely by using marijuana, a drug many health
experts and government studies have determined to be far less dangerous
than the penalties for its used demand.

However, Chief Gurr was killed while performing the duties that his
position demanded. For that he deserves only the highest praise. Mr. Roach
states that, " . . . Utah's finest are unabashedly continuing this idiocy
by declaring prohibition to be our No. 1 solution." He misses the fact
that, under current policy, prohibition is law enforcement's only solution
to illegal drug use.

It isn't law enforcement that needs to " . . . consider looking at [the
drug problem] from the perspective of a public health issue . . ." It is
our policy-makers and, ultimately, the public that must change perspective.
Our policy-makers and the public need to understand that there is a vast
difference between the use of a drug and criminal act done under the
influence of that drug, whether it be alcohol, tobacco or methamphetamine.
If there is ever going to be more effective policy that deals with the
problems of illegal drug use then it is the responsibility of each
individual to work toward that goal.

MICHAEL GREENE, Salt Lake City