IT'S TIME TO RETHINK DRUG POLICIES

The recent discovery of mass graves in Mexico makes me wonder how much
longer the American people are going to put up with this ludicrous drug war
that Richard Nixon started 30 years ago. The untold billions of dollars
that we have spent on the drug war has created ruthless cartels, cheaper
drugs, near gridlock in both federal and the state court systems and a
prison population that is unmatched by any other country in the world.

Drugs are a problem that we will never rid ourselves of. However, if the
government regulated drugs they way it does alcohol and tobacco, and there
was truth in drug education, the dangers associated with drugs could be
minimized. Prohibition of any substance will and always has created large
profit margins for the prohibited substances. Large profit margins have and
will continue to create ruthless cartels that will stop at nothing for
their profits.

Interdiction has done nothing more than destroy families with incarceration
and produce cheaper and more readily available drugs. It does not matter
how many cartels the Drug Enforcement Administration destroys; there will
always be another, more powerful one.

It is time for American citizens to demand a different approach to our drug
problem. How many more people must die before we realize that interdiction
is not working? It is time to rethink our drug policy. It is time for harm
reduction.

RICK L. MERIDITH Tampa