DRUG WAR MUST COME TO AN END

Re: "Peaceful protest criticizes drug war," July 2.

The protest in front of the DEA office in Dallas, although small, is a
harbinger of more protests to come. Americans are finally waking up from the
drug war propaganda slumber of the last 30 years.

More than 100,000 Americans are arrested every month for illegal drugs
(50,000 for marijuana alone). As one of the protest signs states, prisons
are being built in Texas at 77 to 1 over colleges.

This madness must end. Julio Machado, special DEA agent, comments, "You
can't get excited over this." The DEA had better get excited.

It is the DEA and the drug dealers who benefit most from the drug war and
they will be the first casualties when it ends.

JIM HELMS, Seagoville

Checked-by: Melodi Cornett