DRUG WAR DISCOURSE NECESSARY FOR KNOWLEDGE

To the Cigar,

Thank you for printing letters suggesting serious change to our drug
policies. It's good to see people taking appreciation for justice over
emotion on this issue, particularly marijuana prohibition. I've been
following the War on Drugs for seven years now, and I hate to say it,
but I think I can sum it up as follows:

Drug laws began at the beginning of the 1900s as a way to control
minorities. "Drug Crazy," a 200-page book by Mike Gray, explains it
all very well. The War on Drugs should be completely overhauled to be
based on science and medicine, not fear and profit. Please ask your
readers to ask their members of Congress to consider the crazy ideas
of legalization and regulation. Drug abuse is a personal and medical
problem, not a judicial one, just like alcohol abuse. Unfortunately,
the common belief that the War on Drugs is saving us all from utter
destruction is keeping many people in government employed. I think
it's horrible that people make their livings from the suffering of
people who really harm no one.

Also, chemical abuse is the real problem, because kids use legal and
accessible things all the time to get a high, and those inhalants
might be the most damaging thing they can do to their body's chemistry.

When we have more facts and justice, we'll have a more free and
responsible society. Go Libertarians!

Thanks,

Mel Marshall

Lakewood, WA