AN AMERICAN, NOT AFGHAN, DRUG PROBLEM

In response to your thoughtful editorial, "Afghanistan's drug problem"
(Wednesday), I submit that Afghanistan doesn't have a drug problem.
The United States has the drug problem. Our drug problems are not
caused by drugs but rather by our counterproductive policies that make
easy-to-grow weeds and wild flowers more valuable than pure gold.

Any efforts to reduce the supply of opium in Afghanistan or any other
country will have the effect of increasing the value of opium. Thus,
the profitability of opium-growing will increase. No product can be
eliminated by making it more profitable.

We cannot even keep illegal drugs out of our highest-security jails
and prisons. So, how can we reasonably expect to keep drugs out of a
country with thousands of miles of international borders?

The simple answer is that we cannot. As long as people want
recreational drugs, and they are willing to pay for the drugs,
somebody will produce the drugs and somebody else will get the drugs
to the willing buyers. This much is guaranteed.

Kirk Muse

Mesa, Ariz.