DRUG WAR BUREAUCRACY

Speaking of the war on drugs ["Wars R Us," Sept. 11, City Weekly]: Years
ago, I began my own war on drugs. Crack was hurting my community, friends
and, in particular, a loved one. After quite a battle, I found I was
powerless. I was repeatedly told I couldn't save them, but I couldn't give
up no matter the toll it was taking. I turned to my government for help.
Surely, they should have more power than I. They told me they were winning
"the war on drugs" but, looking at my battle scars, I really couldn't
believe them.

The government spends hundreds of billions of taxpayers' dollars on this
war but have only been successful in creating and paying for a bunch of
government jobs that wage war on our people. I don't believe this was their
intention, just the outcome of a long, uphill battle. They, like me, have
been powerless. I did find that marijuana prohibition greatly interfered
with their plan to protect us from heroin and cocaine. I believe it to be
the reason for such defeat.

It's past time we end this unproductive, costly war. The money needs to be
used on intervention and treatment. We need to shut down the black market
by legalizing marijuana and allowing hard-drug addicts to obtain their
drugs through medical facilities with treatment programs. This is not only
good for the addict, it's good for their family and takes "a bite out of
crime" in our communities. Or they will get their drugs by any means,
without treatment, the black market will continue to prosper and we all pay
the price.

My newfound favorite quote by Chief Joseph: "I am tired of fighting, our
chiefs are all killed, the little children are freezing to death. I want to
have time to look for my children and see how many of them I can find.
Maybe I shall find them among the dead. Hear me my chiefs. I am tired. My
heart is sick and sad and from where the sun now stands, I will fight no
more, forever."

Sandy Cote

Toledo, Ohio