'DRUG WAR' ABSOLUTE FAILURE IN STATE, NATION

The truth is becoming apparent: The war on drugs is an abject failure.

After spending $1 trillion of our taxes in the past 30 years to stem the use
of illegal drugs, drugs are purer, cheaper and more plentiful than at any
time in our history.

In one recent survey, teens revealed that it was easier to get marijuana
than alcohol.

After all, a liquor store owner wants to protect his ABC license, but the
mob will sell to anyone.

America now has the world's largest penal system, just short of 2 million
people behind bars — legions of whom are nonviolent drug offenders.

Drug abuse is a public health issue.

We don't lock up people who have alcohol abuse problems, yet we have created
a class of criminals out of people with similar chemical dependency
problems.

Even our federal drug czar has said, "We're going to bankrupt ourselves . .
. we can't incarcerate our way out of this problem."

We need education and treatment to assist people in avoiding or escaping the
predicament of substance abuse.

The black market that willingly supplies our children drugs should be
eliminated through regulation and taxation of currently illegal drugs,
because the failed model of prohibition is not working.

R. W. Jones, Jackson