NEW DRUG POLICY NEEDED

General Barry McCaffrey remains, to the bitter end of his tenure as the
United States' drug czar, a consummate bureaucrat (Hardliner quits US war
on drugs, October 19). His idea of success is based entirely on the growth
of his budget, staff and political profile.

Gen McCaffrey and his policies have caused havoc, both here and abroad. The
US has the dubious distinction of housing in its jails more of its own
citizens than any other country in the world. Many of these people are
non-violent drug offenders.

Gen McCaffrey has involved us in a quagmire in Colombia that is guaranteed
to cost us billions of taxpayers' dollars and countless innocent lives.

We can now begin anew. We should appoint someone who has actually studied
the world's drug policies and understands the history of drug prohibition
in the US. No vested interest, no pie-in-the-sky rhetoric, no
government-sponsored propaganda campaigns, no more corrupt law enforcement
and government officials, and no more distorted data.

Mike Plylar Kremmling, Colorado, USA
~~~~~~

So, Labour MP Martin Salter wants a royal commission to examine drug policy
concerning marijuana (Cannabis scare fails to ignite, October 19). A fine
idea, but it has already been done - many times: Indian Hemp Commission
(1893); LaGuardia Report (US 1944); Presidential Commission on Law
Enforcement (US 1967); Report by the Advisory Committee on Drug Dependence
(UK 1968); President's Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse (US 1972);
Inquiry into the Non-Medical Use of Drugs (Canada 1972); and Report on the
Non-Medical Use of Drugs (Australia 1979).

In each case the reports have concluded that marijuana prohibition is
without a justifiable foundation. Public opinion polls consistently support
substantially reduced penalties, and often decriminalisation or limited
legalisation. Studies consistently demonstrate that its harmful effects are
far less than those of alcohol or tobacco. There is no rational reason for
the demonisation of this herb. So let us not waste time with yet another
commission. Why not just do the right thing?

Brian Otto Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

The Guardian Weekly 9-11-2000, page 15