RETHINK DRUG POLICY

Our tough-on-drugs leaders in Washington are planning to give more
than $1 billion to a corrupt Colombian military, while Kansas is
experiencing a methamphetamine cleanup crisis. Never mind that the
Colombian military has long been rumored to have ties to drug
traffickers. Its direct involvement with paramilitaries notorious for
human rights abuses is well documented.

These same paramilitaries were originally created as private armies by
drug lords. Like the communist guerrillas deemed narco-guerrillas by
Congress, the paramilitaries profit directly from the drug trade. But
they do so without mentioning land redistribution or socialist ideals.

Apparently Uncle Sam is more concerned with who profits from drugs
than reducing public health problems created by meth labs. With drug
treatment underfunded and toxic chemicals accumulating in the
heartland, I have to wonder just how committed our leaders are to
winning the drug war.

Then again, if politicians were truly committed to solving public
health problems they would not be applying military solutions. Our
experience with alcohol prohibition has proven that such approaches
are doomed to failure.

ROBERT SHARPE
Students for Sensible Drug Policy
George Washington University
Washington, D.C.