ONLY LEGALIZATION CAN HALT THE DRUG TRADE

Re: "Message for Colombia: No one is safe" (Opinion, June 22):

Despite the $1.6 billion in U.S. aid just earmarked for fighting drugs in
Colombia, there is only one thing that terrifies those involved in the drug
trade: legalization.

By legalizing drugs, the money associated with illegal drugs would dry up.
And once the money dried up, the powerful drug lords that control Colombia
would go back to picking coffee beans.

That $1.6 billion would be far better spent setting up treatment centers
for those who will get addicted to drugs no matter how stiff the penalties
for usage become.

Michael Stewart, San Diego