PROHIBITION FUELS THE DRUG TRADE

Regarding the letter to the editor of May 29 ("The drug war is
'misguided'"), the letter writer voices a belief shared by 70 percent of
Americans: The so-called drug war is a miserable failure.

Prohibition of the drug alcohol in the 1920s helped finance criminal
gangs, increased violence and murder in the streets, and exposed
minors to drug trafficking. Prohibition of other drugs in 2004 is no
different.

A growing group of police and judges have formed an organization aimed
at ending the drug war and moving all drugs into a legal and regulated
market. It's time to put backroom drug dealers out of business and
reduce the violence in the streets.

Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (www.leap.cc) was created to give
a voice to those in the criminal justice system who have learned the
hard way that no matter how many Americans we arrest and incarcerate,
the obscene profits created by drug prohibition ensure that the market
will always continue. And, in doing so, it will impact our kids and
neighborhoods worst of all.

As a non-profit organization, we rely on the public to help us create
speaking venues. LEAP speakers can logically explain the reasons for
ending 21st-century prohibition to your church group, civic club or
school group. We will be touring the Southeast during the second half
of this year. Interested readers are invited to check us out.

Stephen Heath, Florida office, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition

Clearwater, Fla.