DRUG POLICIES FAIL TO CURB DRUG USE, LIMIT BENEFITS

To the Editor:

Re: "Fighting the War on Drugs," (News, Oct. 8, 2003)

As an alumnus of Cornell and the husband of a medical marijuana patient, I
was pleased to see the positive reception given to Ethan Nadelmann of the
Drug Policy Alliance. More people need to recognize that not only do our
current drug policies fail to accomplish their mission of curbing drug use,
but they also promote deleterious medical and societal consequences.

My wife and I should not have to live in fear of an armed raid on our house
simply because she may need medicine at some point. We should be able to
raise our children in an honest, compassionate environment. Hopefully, all
it will take is more people who understand the reality of the situation,
and work to change it.

- -- Bill Hildebrandt '84