COERCIVE DRUG POLICIES DON'T WORK

YOU CAN'T LEGISLATE MORALITY

Re: Our drug problem is both a medical and criminal one, letter, April 16.

The letter writer shows not only ignorance of our drug problem but
also a blatant disregard for the truth. She stated that illegal drugs
are a contributing factor in the spread of diseases, crime and moral
decay. I agree. Junkies sharing dirty needles do spread diseases, but
this problem could be all but eliminated with a needle exchange
program.

And yes, illegal drugs are a contributing factor in the spread of
crime. However, the crime associated with illegal drugs would be
eliminated if the government would step in and regulate the sale of
drugs.

Moral decay is a completely different subject. What is considered
moral in one culture is considered depraved in another. So, whose
morality are we supposed to legislate? History has proven that no
government can successfully legislate morality.

Illegal drugs are purer and more readily available today than they
were when Nixon first declared this unholy war on our nation. She
said that "Since the 1970s we have reduced overall drug use in this
country by greater than 50 percent." According to the latest studies,
this is a lie. Sure, marijuana use might be down a percent or two,
but heroin use and overdoses have skyrocketed. In the '70s, the club
drug ecstasy was legal and overdoses from it were unheard of. Now
that it has been pushed underground, the hospitals and morgues are
full of ecstasy-related cases. Drugs are a major problem, but making
them illegal has made them an even greater problem. Criminal
sanctions for possession and use of illegal drugs by adults should be
lifted. However, stringent laws and harsh sanctions for delivering
drugs to a minor or driving under the influence of them should be
enacted and enforced with a vengeance. -- Rick L. Meredith, Tampa

USE HARM REDUCTION STRATEGIES

Re: Our drug problem is both a medical and a criminal one, letter, April 16.

The letter writer seems outraged that Neal Peirce would join the
growing cacophony of voices nationwide who are critical of the many
failed policies of the Drug War (Changing attitudes on the Drug War,
April 2). In an attempt to clarify her alarm, she equates illegal
drug users as on par with murderers, rapists and child molesters.

As an active member of the Drug Policy Reform movement, I can assure
her that our primary intention is not to damage the lucrative market
share enjoyed by those who profit most from our current drug
policies. (Such as the letter writer's company, which sells drug
testing kits to businesses and families.) Rather, we seek
alternatives that deal responsibly with America's very real drug
problems. We do not waste time with useless and ineffective methods
which harm Americans and their families far worse than using any of
the currently illegal substances.

If readers are believers in zero-tolerance approaches -- i.e.,
warrantless searches, compulsory drug tests of students and
employees, long prison sentences for marijuana users, overall
expansion of prisons over schools and police corruption generated by
the obscene profits of the black market -- they should take the time
to look at the Web site for Drug Free America Foundation
(www.dfaf.org). However, if they seek working alternatives to our
current failed policies, they can check out the Web's most accessed
site for drug information (www.drugsense.org).

It is interesting to note that at the latter site, they will see
links to both points of view regarding the Drug War. We have
discovered in the last six years that when the average citizen is
exposed to all of the information available on drug policy, they more
naturally gravitate toward harm-reduction strategies and away from
punitive law enforcement-based remedies.

Thanks to the Times for sharing different points of view on a
sensitive topic. -- Stephen Heath, Clearwater

KIDS MAKE GOOD CUSTOMERS

Re: Our drug problem is both a medical and a criminal one, letter, April 16.

The letter writer takes issue with Neal Peirce's column, Changing
attitudes on the Drug War (April 2). While I'm certain that most
Americans share her belief in the importance of keeping drugs away
from our children, she should consider this fact: Despite a
decades-long drug war that has eroded our civil liberties, imprisoned
hundreds of thousands and cost hundreds of billions, it is now easier
for the average 13-year-old to buy marijuana than it is beer. No
matter how you look at it, this can not be considered a success.

The reason our kids can buy illegal drugs easier than legal drugs is
because legal drugs are sold by licensed, taxed and regulated
entities. These entities have an enormous economic interest in
maintaining their legal status and positive public image and
therefore will not jeopardize this by soliciting minors for drug
sales. This is why you won't see a representative of Jack Daniels or
Anheuser Busch hanging around the school yard. Purveyors of illegal
drugs have no such concerns. In fact their economic incentives are
almost the opposite. For them, kids make good customers.

It is time we take a hard look at the results we wish to achieve and
devise the best ways to get there.

- -- Bryan Hostnick, Clearwater