WAR ON DRUGS MUST BE ENDED

The letter of Jan. 4 by Robert Sand is one of the best arguments I
have read for ending our drug war. The war that we have been waging
since the '60s and which we have been losing over and over and over
again. The most profound question he asks -- "Why do we allow criminals
to control their (drugs) distribution -- criminals with a financial
interest in finding new customers and keeping others addicted?" -- says
it all. Why do we? If we were to setup controlled drug sales,
preferably through pharmacies, we could take the sales away from the
criminals. In addition, we could warn of the dangers of drug
addiction, just as we do narcotics and pain killers. But most
important we could take the vast amount of monies that would be taken
in to set up a universal health care program including mental health
services that would treat drug addiction rather than punish it. Isn't
it time we listened to people like State's Attorney Sand and start
thinking out of the box? It's been too long.

Claire Walker

Proctorsville