BAD DRUG POLICY

Regarding Tom Oleson's June 4 column, What are you smoking?, the
Global Commission on Drug Policy's groundbreaking report criticized
the U.S. government for promoting a global drug war.

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy immediately
rejected the commission's call for reform and defended the "balanced
drug-control efforts" of the U.S. government. These "balanced" efforts
have given the land of the free the highest incarceration rate in the
world. Prohibition-related violence has caused upwards of 35,000
deaths in Mexico over the past four years.

Despite criminal penalties, the U.S. has higher rates of drug use than
European Union countries like Portugal that have decriminalized drugs.
It's long past time to stop throwing good money after bad drug policy.
Canada should just say no to the American inquisition.

ROBERT SHARPE

Arlington, Va.