DRUG WAR FAILURE

A new issue has appeared lately in The Post and Courier op-ed pages:
the "War on Drugs." There are strong feelings on both sides, and it's
about time we had a thorough debate about what remains a huge feature
of American policy.

In 1971, President Richard Nixon coined the term, "War on Drugs," and
since then the American government has failed to put a dent in the
demand for illicit substances, let alone eliminate them. History
proves the supply will always be there to meet demand.

Terrorist groups such as the Taliban in Afghanistan and the FARC in
Colombia have financed themselves with drug money, all made possible
because drugs are illegal and unregulated. If certain drugs were
decriminalized, the need for a black market would disappear and the
streams of revenue for these terrible people would evaporate. Why buy
from murderous Colombian drug lords when safer, legal options are available?

The most shameful aspect of this endless "War on Drugs" is the
targeting of marijuana. While the authorities might have you believe
otherwise, marijuana is far less harmful than harder drugs such as
heroin and crystal meth. It has a much smaller capacity to destroy
one's health and one's life. Yet the federal government spends $10
billion a year arresting more than 700,000 Americans for using
marijuana - a victimless crime. Don't we have a national border all
these narcotics officers could be defending?

No one is arguing on behalf of drugs. Most reasonable people can agree
that these substances cause serious harm to individuals and are a
blight. The question is the role of the government.

After 35 years of "war," I think it is clear that our drug laws are
responsible for much more crime, violence and personal destruction
than the substances themselves.

JEFF ADKINS

Mount Pleasant