CZECHS WINNING ON DRUGS

In response to your report, "If anyone is winning the drugs war, it is
not the politicians" (6 March), Britain and the United States are not
winning the drugs war, and they can't win it, no matter how much money
is thrown at it.

There is only one country where it is legal for adults to grow and
possess small quantities of cannabis-the Czech Republic.

The Czech overall drug arrest rate is one per 100,000; the overall
drug arrest rate in the US is 585 per 100,000. The Czech robbery rate
is two per 100,000, while the robbery rate in the United States is
145.9 per 100,000, according to FBI figures.

We are told tolerant cannabis laws cause people to use other, more
dangerous drugs. But this doesn't happen in the Czech Republic. Why
not?

Could it be that when people can legally obtain cannabis at an
affordable price, they tend not to use or desire any other
recreational drugs?

Kirk Muse

Mesa, Arizona, USA