WAR AGAINST DRUGS

Sir, A letter in The Sunday Times (October 31) from a member of the Policy
Reform Group of Minnesota claimed that up to 10,000 Americans die each year
having taken illegal drugs (of widely varying and unpredictable strength
and quality). Additionally, it said, the US spends pounds 50 billion on
anti-drug budgets and associated matters, it has paramilitary-style police,
curtailed civil liberties, a huge, self-perpetuating and propagandist
bureaucracy, an increased number of Aids infections and no decrease in drug
abuse.

What do we spend in Britain on all anti-drug measures and what is the cost
to society in the increasing crime rate spawned by the need to buy illegal
drugs at inflated prices?

How much could the tax burden be reduced if we were to stop reinforcing
failure, decriminalise drug abuse, produce drugs of known strength and
purity, tax drugs as we do tobacco and alcohol and reduce the crime rate,
the anti-drug bureaucracy and the police force?

Is this too much common sense or too revolutionary?

Yours faithfully, J. G. WISHART, Milton House, Milton of Balgonie,
Glenthrothes KY7 6PX.