CALL A TRUCE IN DRUG WAR

Re: "U.S. can't duck serious issues at southern border," Tuesday Editorials.
Outgoing U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Tony Garza's pessimism over Mexico's drug
cartels is well-founded. However, his solution -- to pour billions of U.S.
dollars into a continuation of the Nixon-era war on drugs -- is simply
absurd. As long as we continue to treat drugs as a criminal justice matter
rather than a public health matter, we will only enrich the drug dealers and
impoverish the taxpayers of all nations.

The legalization of drugs would free up vast sums for substance abuse
treatment programs, eliminate most of the corruption of police and public
officials, and turn convicts into taxpayers on both sides of the border.
Perhaps an Obama administration will have the courage to just say no to this
senseless war on our own citizens.

Owen Davis

Highland Village