FAILED DRUG POLICY SHOULD BE REVERSED

Editor, the Tribune: As a retired police detective who worked in the
trenches of the drug war for 18 years, I heartily agree with Hank
Waters that we need to repeal this modern prohibition. Drug
prohibition has increased crime, death, disease and quite probably
drug use. I could not see one positive outcome from my position in
the trenches. The slaughter of innocents at birthday parties in
Mexico merits a shrug from us. We don't care enough to change policy.

I, for one, have faith that few Americans of any age are going to
start using heroin or meth or crack if you made them legal and
regulated. We are not as stupid as police chiefs, sheriffs and
politicians say we are. And if I am wrong, we can always go back to
the drug war. As our "thin blue line" gets thinner in Missouri, do
you really want us to chase the likes of Willie Nelson and Rush Limbaugh?

Howard Wooldridge

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