CALLING OFF `WAR ON DRUGS' WOULD STEM THE VIOLENCE (2 of 2)

New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson Of New Mexico Is Spot On About Drug
Legalization, As Our Own Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke Has Been

("Lonely stand for drug legalization," Oct. 24).

The costs for law enforcement and imprisonment of the so-called "War
on Drugs" are staggering. A conservative estimate would be in the tens
of billions of dollars annually, and escalating.

At the same time, funds for education, jobs for our youth, re-building
our cities and other social enhancements are constantly being cut back.

Suppose we call off the drug war -- and legalize drugs and tax them,
just as we do with alcohol and tobacco.

The billions wasted on efforts to control drug trafficking and punish
offenders could be spent giving us a social structure the world would
envy.

Drug addicts need help. They don't need to be put in
jail.

The irony is that if drugs were legalized, there'd be money to help
them.

Peter Stewart
Towson