LETTER OF THE WEEK

CALL A TRUCE IN DRUG WAR

By Owen Davis

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

Pubdate: Wed, 3 Dec 2008

Source: Dallas Morning News (TX)

Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08.n1082.a04.html