U.S. Should Overhaul Drug Policies

I was encouraged to read "Colombia's Drug War Must Be Won in the U.S." by
William Ratliff (Commentary, Feb. 11). We need to overhaul our entire drug
policy in the U.S. My family and I lived in Ecuador, a neighboring country
to Colombia, and we are dismayed at how the U.S. drug policies in Colombia
are now destabilizing Ecuador. We fear that this scenario will be played
out throughout Latin America to the detriment of ultimate U.S. interests.

Ratliff stated, "If the enormous profits from this massive drug industry
were slashed through some form of 'decriminalization' as part of a broader
program in the U.S., the level of corruption and violence in Colombia,
Mexico and other countries would become much more manageable." I have felt
this way for 20 years. My only fear is that it is already too late; people
who benefit from high drug prices due to their present illegality would
probably fight decriminalization tooth and nail through perfectly legal
means, such as lobbyists and advertising. Let's admit it: The war on drugs
is a failed effort; drugs are everywhere in spite of it.

Iris Blaisdell
Palm Desert

Ratliff's article ought to be mandatory reading for everyone in the U.S.
government today. Our drug policy vis-a-vis Latin America for the last 20
years has simply been wrongheaded and counterproductive. As a country, we
need to address the real problem regarding drugs, and that is demand. Once
we reduce the usage of illicit drugs, the supply window will shrink.
Washington must recognize that the real war on drugs is here, at home, and
not abroad.

Bob Teigan
Simi Valley