A WAR NOBODY WINS

In response to Laurie Roberts' column "Here's the perfect dog to roam the
halls" (May 12):

The Scottsdale School Board isn't doing students any favors by sending in
the drug dogs. These days, zero tolerance poses a greater threat than
drugs. According to the Monitoring the Future survey
(www.monitoringthefuture.org), more than half of all high school seniors
have tried an illicit drug. Denying a majority of the nation's youths an
education isn't in America's best interest. Most students outgrow their
youthful indiscretions involving drugs. On the other hand, an arrest and
criminal record can be life shattering.

After admitting to smoking marijuana (but not inhaling), former President
Bill Clinton opened himself up to "soft on drugs" criticism, yet thousands
of Americans have paid the price in the form of shattered lives. More
Americans went to prison or jail during the Clinton administration than
during any past administration. As an admitted former drinker and alleged
illicit drug user, President Bush also is politically vulnerable when it
comes to drugs. While youthful indiscretions didn't stop Clinton or Bush
from assuming leadership positions, an arrest surely would have. The
short-term health effects of marijuana are inconsequential compared with
the long-term effects of criminal records.

Drug abuse is bad, but the drug war is worse.

- - Robert Sharpe

Arlington, Va.

Robert Sharpe is a policy analyst for Common Sense for Drug Policy.