LETTER OF THE WEEK

FAILURES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS

By Anthony Papa

To the Editor:

Your editorial, while accurate, misses the overarching point.
Prohibition failed in the past, and it is not working now. The scarce
tax dollars currently being wasted by the White House on quixotic
interdiction adventures pale in comparison to the decades of tax
revenues we haven't been collecting because of prohibition.

These funds could help pay for honest drug education, free drug
treatment on demand and better health care -- all things we need right now.

Instead of flawed government hype, we need policy alternatives to the
drug war that uphold the sovereignty of individuals over their minds
and bodies and are grounded in science, compassion, health and human rights.

Anthony Papa

Communications Specialist

Drug Policy Alliance

Pubdate: Mon, 7 Jul 2008

Source: New York Times (NY)

Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n636/a04.html