TO END THE WAR

Four recent comments on your editorial support of ending the "war on
drugs" happen to resemble the public's distribution for and against
the war. About one-third of the public favors continuing the war:
Robert Maheu's "Druggies' burden" (letter, April 30). About two-thirds
favor ending the war: Mark Stemler's "End this war" (letter, April
29), Amanda Jones' "Deadly prohibition" (letter, April 29) and Dennis
Woltz's "U.S. police state" (letter, April 30).

We have three ways to end the war.

At the federal level, because use of drugs is a health problem, put
control under the Department of Health and Human Services or under the
surgeon general. Or, better, do what we did in 1933 with the 21st
Amendment. We put control of liquor at state level, closer to the
voters. That would stop the war's ravages of our culture.

The states' controls would vary. The state policy that would reduce
rates of crime the most and increase revenue the most would soon have
followers.

To get the attention of Congress may require more than a million
letters, phone calls and e-mails to the two senators and the
representative we voted into office. The will of voters, if expressed,
has more influence than even political money.

Onward with demands to delegate authority to the 50 states to control
all drugs now defined as illegal.

Clark Hosmer, Shalimar