WAR ON DRUGS NOT WORTH FIGHTING

Thank you, Steve Chapman, for questioning our politicians for
continuing Nixon's Drug War against Americans who prefer pot instead
of other drugs ("Eliminating the costs, fiscal and otherwise, of the
drug war," Oct. 10). However, you left out a major motivation why our
politicians continue to order the arresting and jailing of Americans
who prefer marijuana instead of alcohol or who prefer medical cannabis
instead of patented pharmaceutical drugs with risky side effects.

Money. It comes down to millions of dollars given to our politicians
by those who benefit the most; the liquor industry (who have a
monopoly on the only legal recreational drug) and the pharmaceutical
industry (who have a monopoly on the only legal pain relief and nausea
relief drugs). Right now our state representatives have a chance to
come clean by passing HB2514 to allow Illinois medical patients to
substitute medical cannabis for risky pharmaceutical drugs.

It is time to demand that our elected officials start doing the right
thing.

Michael Desjardins

Chicago