WAR ON DRUGS HAS BEEN WASTE OF MONEY

A big thank you to Bill Bollon for his excellent community column:
'Legalize drugs to break state's prison dependency' on Feb. 22. It is
my hope that President Obama's review of programs will show that the
war on drugs is not only a big waste of money, but a contributing
factor in our nation's misuse of illegal drugs.

By attempting to control others use of these drugs we continue the
dysfunctional circle of the dependent family -- everyone trying to
control the user's behavior except the one person who can, which is
the user. This false placement of responsibility doesn't end the
misuse of the drug, it keeps the "game" going.

It is time we apply the principles of capitalism as well as family
dynamics to our national problem of misuse of illegal drugs. Drive the
criminal element out of the drug trade by legalizing drugs and tax
there production and sale; use this money to hold the user responsible
for any illegal behavior enhanced by a drugged state and to provide
treatment for users and the ones they hurt by their use.

Margaret Schultz

Green Lake