DRUG WAR A FAILURE, WORLD LEADERS AGREE

The war on drugs should be ended. It has filled our jails, cost
taxpayers millions, and fueled organized crime. In June 2011, an
alliance of world leaders declared the war on drugs a resounding
failure. The Global Commission on Drug Policy included former
Secretary of State George Shultz, former Chairman of the Federal
Reserve Paul Volcker, former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, and
ex-presidents of Colombia and Mexico. Their recommendations to the
U.N.:

* End the criminalization of drug users who "do no harm to
others";

* Use legal regulation to wrestle controls from criminals;

* Institute addiction treatment programs if needed.

Hawaii County voters passed an initiative declaring that marijuana
have lowest enforcement priority. Cannabis Minister Roger Christie is
now facing marijuana distribution charges. He has been jailed for more
than a year and not permitted bail, yet we witness bail offers to
those accused of horrendous murders. Our community is disheartened
with this injustice.

Mary Marvin Porter

Hilo