FAILED DRUG POLICY

Re: The editorial, "A Quiet Sentence," (Views, Jan. 18):

Why would such a talented, well-liked man choose to risk a long
prison sentence by smuggling more that $500 million worth of cocaine?
The answer is probably the adrenaline rush he got by eluding DEA
agents for years while smuggling lots of cocaine, never mind the
excitement of the $500 million.

Contrary to popular belief, Ivan Gonzalez-Bejarano's arrest did not
take any drugs off the street, as those drugs are now being provided
by his former competitors.

The drug war failed for the same reason that Prohibition (of alcohol)
failed. Both tried to stamp out ALL use, rather than targeting problem use.

If we were to target problem users -as we do problem drinkers - we'd
have something to show for our effort, not the $10 billion per year
taxpayers fork over to house drug war felons.

JOHN CHASE, Palm Harbor