THE WAR ON DRUGS IS A LOST CAUSE

Re: Ghetto Godfather, Jonathan Kay, Tuesday, Feb. 12.

J.T., as described in Jonathan Kay's column, came from humble
beginnings, went to college despite being raised in an inner city
slum, built a business employing 200 people and still has the time to
organize "get out the vote" drives, bring the sick to hospital and
ensure local safety through a community watch. What an admirable man
- -- someone to be a role model to others. The tragedy is that J.T.'s
business is dealing drugs and his contract enforcement mechanism is
violence. The waste of such natural talent (a man who could be
benefiting society spends his time poisoning it) is worthy of Bertolt Brecht.

Drugs destroy individuals, families and ultimately communities, but
our current approach is simply not working -- the war on drugs is a
war without victory --a cursory view of the downtown badlands of any
major Canadian city will prove that. That said, we must "waste not
fresh tears over old griefs"; it is time for a serious re-evaluation
of how to manage narcotics in society.

James Morton, immediate past president, Ontario Bar Association, Toronto.