'WAR ON DRUGS' INSANITY MUST END

To the editor:

In the April 22 edition of The Daily News, I found three stories from
different parts of the hemisphere with a common thread:

* Peru: The CIA spots a plane flying in a known drug trafficking
corridor without a flight plan (as far as they knew), and it notifies
the Peruvian Air Force. Peru shoots down the plane and then,
reportedly, shoots at the downed plane and survivors of the emergency
landing as the occupants swim for safety.

A woman and her baby were killed. No drugs were found onboard the
aircraft. The dead woman was a missionary.

It's time to end the insane "War on Drugs."

* Philadelphia: A minister is shot dead as the result of a shooting
during a reported drug deal. No arrests have been made. The minister
is still dead.

It's time to end the insane "War on Drugs."

* Mexico: A "top member" of a Juarez drug cartel is found guilty of
providing drugs to people who want them in exchange for something
this "top member" of the cartel wanted. Regardless of what it was he
wanted, if all participants acted willingly, then there were no
victims. Without a victim, there is no crime. For committing no
crime, the "top member" is sentenced to 17 years in prison.
Meanwhile, an American growing a few pot plants for his own use can
find himself in prison for life -- again for no crime.

The insane "War on Drugs" must end.

Drug use is stupid, OK -- but the insane "War on Drugs" is a
disaster.

Mathew Tillman
Jacksonville