DON'T LET THE KIDS BE DRUG WAR CASUALTIES

School districts aren't doing kids or parents any favors by inviting
drug-sniffing dogs into schools. These days, zero tolerance poses a
greater threat than drugs.

According to the Monitoring the Future survey, 48 percent of U.S.
high school seniors have tried an illicit drug. Denying half the
nation's youth an education and the chance to grow up to become
productive members of society is not in America's best interest.

Most students outgrow their youthful indiscretions involving drugs.
An arrest and criminal record, on the other hand, can be
life-shattering. After admitting to smoking pot (but not inhaling),
former President Bill Clinton opened himself up to "soft on drugs" criticism.

And thousands of Americans have paid the price in the form of
shattered lives. More Americans went to prison or jail during the
Clinton administration than during any past administration.

As an admitted former drinker and alleged illicit drug user,
President George W. Bush also is politically vulnerable when it
comes to drugs. While youthful indiscretions didn't stop Clinton or
Bush from assuming leadership positions, an arrest surely would
have. The short-term health effects of marijuana are inconsequential
compared to the long-term effects of criminal records.

Drug abuse is bad, but the drug war is worse.

Robert Sharpe Arlington, Va.

Robert Sharpe is a policy analyst with Common Sense for Drug Policy.