Drug War Ruinous Of Society

Bravo to the November Coalition for their wonderfully truthful
depiction of the effects of the socalled "War On Drugs" on American
families. (Your View cartoon. May 10.)

There are those who continue to shout about the breakdown of our
society without considering the devastation wrought by arresting
nonviolent drug users. Until we acknowledge the war on drugs as the war
on families there is little chance of things getting better.
I agree with the November Coalition: Free the POWs in this modern civil
war. Let them return to their families and their jobs. The harm done
by taking productive people out of society for an act of freedom of
choice is greater than we could have imagined. Prohibition is far more
harmful to society than the use of the substances it attempts to
control. That's why every major study conducted so far has recommended
decriminalization of marijuana.

The citizens of America are waking up to the truth. Let's hope our
elected officials will do so, and soon. We have precious little time
before our society is in ruins, just another casualty of the war on drugs.

Sincerely,

Tom G. Hawkins
Grand Coulee