DRUGS IN PRISON INDICATES FAILURE IN WAR

Dear Editor,

Regarding the Sept. 3 editorial, the fact that the drug war cannot
keep drugs out of prisons, much less schools, is indicative of its
inherent failure. Drug warriors would have us believe the drug wars
collateral damage is reason to throw good money after bad. Drug
prohibition finances organized crime at home and terrorism abroad,
which is then used to justify increased drug war spending. It's time
to end this madness and instead treat all substance abuse, legal or
otherwise, as the public health problem it is.

Thanks to honest public education, tobacco use has declined
considerably in recent years. Apparently mandatory minimum prison
sentences, civil asset forfeiture, random drug testing and racial
profiling are not necessarily the most cost-effective means of
discouraging unhealthy choices.

Robert Sharpe, MPA

Policy Analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, DC