We are pleased to see The Herald printing articles and letters concerning
drug policies. We are also glad to see the spirit in which these are being
presented. Healthy debate on drug policy issues is long overdue.

The Herald recently published a letter to the editor by someone concerned
about drug policies. We have some of those same concerns, especially the
problem of persons driving under the influence. Nevertheless, we do have a
real problem with one aspect of this letter -- that is the erroneous idea
that drugs have an inherent power to turn people into criminals. In the
letter he said that "I've never read of people breaking into homes to
support a cigarette habit."

What if we had a tobacco shortage, or we forced tobacco onto the black
market? What would happen? How about some real life examples?

In 1994 Canada raised its tobacco taxes more than 100 percent. Gangs
started importing illegal cigarettes and fighting each other over turf.
This spring, after several bloody shoot-outs between gangs and police,
Canada repealed the 1994 increases. The gangs have disappeared.

In Germany today, gangs are gaining ground due to harsh taxes on
tobacco products. As a result more young Germans have access to tobacco
than before the taxes. The result? A black market which sells its poison
to anyone, no matter their age.

During a cigarette shortage in Europe during World War II, some
nicotine addicts lied and stole to obtain tobacco. Some traded away
personal treasures, even food despite food shortages. Some reports say
women resorted to prostitution in order to smoke tobacco.

Does this sound familiar? If nicotine addicts lose their supply, they
may act in ways associated with persons addicted to heroin or cocaine,
but none of those drugs inherently degrades users. Was it something
inherent in the tobacco that caused this criminal behavior? Could the
cause of this kind of drug related criminal behavior be the consequence
of our current drug policies?

The letter mentioned earlier was written in support of Bob Dole. It
said that he will "bring new energy to the war on drugs." Anyone who uses
these "drug war" criteria to decide in this election is wasting his or
her time. When one compares the Clinton and Dole policies, he or she will
find that they are essentially the same (except for tobacco). We need to
get past the rhetoric, sound bites and misinformation coming from the
candidates. They both support the same failed policies of the last 80
years of our nation's longest war. Of course, victory is always right
around the corner. Just ask them. Instead of arguing over politics we
need to work together on this issue. given the current statistics, what
we are currently doing does not work. The definition of craziness is to
keep doing the same thing and expecting different results. Our nation's
children deserve better.

Annie and Michael Marion
Marysville