CRIME AND DRUGS

Regarding the excellent May 13 editorial on the misguided selection of
hawkish, supply-side drug warrior John Walters as drug czar, organized
crime is no doubt very pleased with Bush's nomination. Tough drug laws give
rise to a lucrative black market in illegal drugs, effectively subsidizing
organized crime.

The crime, corruption and overdose deaths attributed to drugs are all
direct results of drug prohibition. With alcohol prohibition repealed,
liquor producers no longer gun each other down in drive-by shootings, nor
do consumers go blind drinking unregulated bathtub gin. There are
cost-effective alternatives to a never ending drug war.

Taxing and regulating marijuana would undermine the black market in illegal
drugs and allow for much needed age controls.

Illicit marijuana provides the black-market contacts that introduce users
to drugs like meth and heroin. Closing this gateway is critical.

In Europe, the Netherlands has successfully reduced overall drug use by
replacing marijuana prohibition with regulation. Dutch rates of drug use
are significantly lower than U.S. rates in every category.

Separating the hard and soft drug markets and establishing age controls for
marijuana has proven more effective than zero tolerance. Given that
marijuana is arguably safer than legal alcohol -- the plant has never been
shown to cause an overdose death -- it makes no sense to waste tax dollars
on failed policies that finance organized crime and facilitate the use of
hard drugs.

Robert Sharpe, Program Officer, The Lindesmith Center-Drug Policy
Foundation, Washington