DRUG WAR'S SUPPLY SIDE

In his Jan. 4 article, Benjamin Dangl is to be commended for raising
awareness of the supply-side drug war's utter failure. Creating a
global welfare state in which every developing country is paid not to
grow illicit drug crops is an expensive proposition. The militaristic
approach is no bargain either. Destroy the Bolivian coca crop and
production will boom in Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia. Destroy every
last plant in South America and domestic methamphetamine production
will increase to meet the demand for cocaine-like drugs. The
self-professed champions of the free market in Congress are seemingly
incapable of applying basic economic principles to U.S. drug policy.
Instead of wasting scarce resources waging a futile supply-side war
abroad, we should be funding cost-effective drug treatment here at home.

Robert Sharpe

Policy Analyst Common Sense for Drug Policy