THE WAR ON DRUGS IS HISTORY'S BIGGEST FARCE

The Blade's recent editorial supporting the restoration of funds to
fight "meth" is proof positive that the Blade is not paying
attention. Time and time again a "drug menace" of one form or another
besets our country, and every time we throw more money at the
problem, make tougher laws and imprison more people with the same
results-more drugs and more people using them.

Law enforcement and incarceration is no way to control drugs. History
has proven that time and again. Wake up!

It is time for us to take an entirely different approach to drug use,
an approach designed to reduce demand, treat addiction and educate the public.

The "crack epidemic" of the 80's and 90's didn't go away because we
arrested our way out of it, it went away because people finally got
wise to what it was doing and use declined. The same will hold true
for the "meth epidemic." If people want amphetamines, prescribe them
and monitor their use. That alone would eliminate illegal labs and
the inherent dangers associated with them and it provides an
opportunity to help addicts recover.

The war on drugs is the biggest farce in history and the fourth
estate isn't paying attention at all.

Jim White