THIS IS YOUR MAILBAG ON DRUGS. ANY QUESTIONS?

Mike Carey is correct on one point: An international treaty does
supersede constitutional rights ("The U.S. Does Have Authority to
Prohibit Drug Usage, and the People Can't Change That," Mailbag, Nov.
1). However, the idea that a treaty is carved in stone and cannot be
amended is an error.

The United States can abandon the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs
treaty anytime it chooses to do so. Moreover, there will be no
repercussions among other signatories, because the United States has
been the main promoter of international drug prohibition. Most of the
countries in Europe would end the drug war in an instant if it were
not for pressure from the United States.

Furthermore, there is some question of whether a treaty that violates
the U.S. Constitution is valid.

If America's drug crusade can only be justified with an outmoded,
Constitution-violating treaty, it is time to end the farce that drug
laws accomplish anything worthwhile.

Ralph Givens