OPPOSE DRUG WAR

On Sept. 27 there will be nationwide demonstrations to protest continuing
U.S. action in Colombia. We object to the government's misguided policies
in the "war on drugs," including aerial crop eradication and mandatory
minimum-drug sentencing. Studies have shown that to reduce cocaine use by 1
percent, it would cost 23 times more to destroy the source than it would to
create domestic treatment and prevention programs.

Why is our government spending such huge amounts of money needlessly? Why
is our government continuing to send American soldiers to fight a war that
cannot be won? Why is it that one-fourth of all prisoners in American jails
are incarcerated for nonviolent drug offenses, yet drug use continues to grow?

Current American policy hurts innocent farmers, it hurts our soldiers, and
it hurts the taxpayers. In response to these policies, we want everyone who
wishes for an end to misguided U.S. policy and a beginning to peace to be
at the state Capitol Sept. 27 to show their refusal to support the
government in its ill-considered actions.

NICHOLAS BERNARD Sandy