WAR ON DRUGS

Nation Must Change Its Policy Toward Drug Crisis

Year after year, the United States spends millions to stop drugs from
entering its borders. We pay to guard the borders. We pay Colombia, South
America, millions to destroy crops of poppies. We pay to destroy the
smugglers' sea and air bases.

And every year, we accomplish nothing. Our prisons are overloaded with
minor drug pushers.

Trying to stop the influx of drugs is like putting a rail fence in the surf
to hold back the ocean tides. There is far too much profit in the trade.

Like it or not, the answer is to admit drugs into our country legally,
under government control, which would cancel any profit in smuggling. Then
we can offer the drugs at no cost only to those who would come in for
treatment of their addiction.

The alternative is to continue our present, futile efforts, which will
certainly please the drug lords.

Willard S. Palmer