LET'S NOT LEGALIZE HARMFUL DRUGS

Mary O'Grady's May 10 column "The U.S. Role in a Mexico Assassination" would
have us believe that the drug war isn't taken as seriously in the U.S. as in
Mexico or that drug dealing at colleges isn't so disturbing to us.
A major tragedy is that marijuana's harmful effects have been known since
Sen. James Eastland (D., Miss.) held six days of hearings in 1974 to
determine marijuana's health effects. Summed up: "Marijuana is harmful to
all major body systems including the brain, heart, lungs and reproductive
system." The difficulty remains getting the word out to the public.
The U.K.'s "The Independent" recently headlined article "Cannabis: An
apology" stating: "In 1997, this newspaper launched a campaign to
decriminalize the drug. If only we had known then what we can reveal today."
Having spoken to thousands of Mexican and American parents, many of whom
have lost their children to drugs, I can attest to the fact that sorrow and
grief are beyond measure in both countries. Anti-drug networks, mostly
volunteer, remain passion-driven.

We have worked with high-ranking officials in both countries including
the Mexican Embassy, the White House and the U.S. Congress. Our
national network takes credit for stopping marijuana legalization in
Mexico. In spite of a well-funded legalization effort in our own
country by the Drug Policy Alliance and the Marijuana Policy Project,
we continue to hold back legalization.

Legalization? Never!

Joyce Nalepka President Drug-Free Kids: America's Challenge

Silver Spring, Md.

Ms. Nalepka cosponsored the bill that closed Maryland's drug
paraphernalia shops. She served as president of Nancy Reagan's
National Federation of Parents during the Reagan administration.