U.S. DRUG POLICY

Re: Feb. 16 commentary "Drop the puffed-up charges."

Conservative columnist Kathleen Parker advocates major changes in the
failed war on drugs, as have other conservatives, such as the late
William F. Buckley.?

Her main reasoning for attacking drug prohibition is unfair domestic
incarceration and neglect of other, more important law enforcement
problems. I agree, as does the organization Law Enforcement Against
Prohibition (LEAP), certainly not a bunch of left-wing libertarians.

But there's another, equally important reason to end drug
prohibition, and that's the extreme harm it's done to other
countries, such as Columbia. Most recently, Mexico is reportedly in
danger of becoming a "failed state" because of extreme violence
directly caused by the U.S. drug policy.

Legalizing and controlling recreational drugs would stop this in its
tracks. It's pure capitalism: If there's a huge demand, it will be
met, legally or illegally, and illegality breeds violence. Surely,
the misery and mayhem caused by present policy demands change.

Eugene Czora

Cedar Creek