Different approaches to the war on drugs
Well, The San Diego Union-Tribune is at it again. If we just
spend a little more taxpayers' money, take away a tad more
personal liberty or use our leaders' bully pulpit, then we can
lick drug use. Poppycock.

You proponents of the drug war need to realize that it is the
very illegality of drugs which makes this illicit industry so
profitable and thus, so dangerous. It is you well-intentioned
social engineers who have driven up the price of cocaine and
marijuana and have turned what is essentially a medical problem
(addiction) into a criminal justice problem. You created the Cali
cartels, the Tijuana mob or whoever is in charge this week.

Your actions have led to people prostituting themselves in order
to get a fix. And you inspire enough fear in people to forfeit
their civil rights in order to wage a war you cannot win. If you
truly want to rid this country of the negative effects of drug
use, you will stop the criminalization of drugs and reconcentrate
resources on personal responsibility and medical approaches to
lifestyle choices. To carry on with this insane war on drugs
shows that you are just as high as the addicts.

Matthew S. McDonald
San Diego, CA