IT'S TIME TO END THE WAR ON DRUGS, AS WITH PROHIBITION

Thank you Ledger for your editorial "The Drug War's Student Fodder"
[Friday]. This is only the latest of "unintended consequences" of the
longest-lasting mistaken "war" we have ever fought.

It had lofty motives -- stop the supply of drugs so no one can harm
himself and, just as importantly, others by using drugs.

It has proved to be an impossible goal for almost 30
years.

The supply of every kind of drug rolls in -- sure, some are stopped,
but the financial rewards are so great that lots of other people will
take the chance of arrest and prison. It's past time to stop this folly.

Legalize drugs just as we did alcohol after we tried to stop it for a
time (but only about 15 years). Quit this "war" just as we finally did
Vietnam -- we can, we do, make mistakes. Drugs are cheap to produce.

If they were legal and taxed like alcohol, they would still be cheap,
with little financial incentive for criminals.

Illegal drugs and their criminal-distribution system would dry up --
the financial incentive would be gone. Quit giving jail terms for use
of drugs just as we do for alcohol and cigarettes. Our prison
population would drop sharply.

We could provide a big public program to treat addicts and to assist
families of addicts.

Taxes on drugs, plus our drug-war chest and prison costs for addicts
would provide money to do it. It's our choice.

We can continue the war that, after 30 years, makes us look like a
nation of idiots.

Or we can try a new path -- we may very well like it.

KENNETH McALLISTER, Winter Haven