FACE REALITIES OF DRUG PRODUCTION, USE

I would like to address the July 23 letters written by Allan Erickson
of the Drug Policy Forum of Oregon ("'War on drugs' is an utter
failure") and Bruce Mirken of the Marijuana Policy Project ("Marijuana
laws make no sense").

After looking at the Drug Policy Forum's Web site, I see we actually
agree on many things. I have one problem with the use of marijuana as
a medication: the way it is ingested. It does not make sense that a
person would be willing to take on additional health risks that could
in the end cause cancer.

I also do not agree that the drug war is racist in origin. To use the
incarceration rate of any ethnic group, you must look at their total
situation. Some cultures embrace the drug trade, as evidenced by music
videos, computer games and the media. Others may use it as an escape.
But to say that the drug war is racist is an easy, unrealistic answer
to a hard problem.

Mr. Mirken avoids the issue when he blames the government and the law
for the problem. He noted that pollution and illegal activities are
the fault of law-abiding citizens, who force these poor drug
growers/dealers onto
public lands. He doesn't admit that the growers endanger the public
and harm the environment.

At the end of the day, if the citizens want to legalize marijuana,
then let them. Until then, I recommend that people don't break the law
and expect nothing to happen.

KEN REAL

Adair Village