DRUGS BAD, BUT HARASSING PEOPLE OF COLOR IS WORSE

I am thankful that Palm Beach County Court Judge Barry Cohen had the
courage to speak out about drug-war failures, "Judge questions police
methods, effectiveness of drug war" (May 4). Judge Cohen sees the
real fear that many black citizens have about getting pulled over for
"driving while black." This fear should not exist in our society,
regardless of how bad an idea it is for people to abuse drugs.

But the drug war does not only lead to police harassing people of
color. The drug war has caused preventable deaths of many innocents.

The drug war must end before more innocent people are killed and
harassed. People will smoke pot regardless of the law. Marijuana
should be treated like alcohol and taxed; drug prohibition has failed
even more miserably than alcohol prohibition.

Aaron M. Clemens

West Palm Beach