LEGALIZATION IS BEST WAY

I'm writing about Bill Richardson's column "Goddard fighting drug
trafficking wisely" (Tribune, Feb. 19).

The only way to effectively dismantle the Mexican drug cartels is the
same way we dismantled the alcohol cartels in 1933.

In 1994, Switzerland started an experimental program to sell heroin
addicts heroin at very low cost or even give it to the addicts who
couldn't afford it. In 2008, 68 percent of the Swiss voted to make the
program permanent. Have Swiss heroin addiction rates skyrocketed? No,
they have fallen.

In 2001, Portugal abolished all criminal penalties for personal
possession of all drugs. Have the rates of drug use and abuse
skyrocketed in Portugal? No, they have fallen.

So why do we continue with our failed drug policies? Other than
because lots of people, organizations and industries have a vested
financial interest in continuing the status quo of drug
prohibition.

Kirk Muse

Mesa