ANTI-DRUG LAWS CREATE PROBLEMS

Regarding the opinion piece by John P. Walters, director of the White House
Office of National Drug Control Policy, the operative word in the
subheadline, "Production of illegal substances takes a high environmental
toll," is "illegal," not "substances" (April 22).

Were the substances not illegal, they wouldn't have to be grown under
remote and hidden conditions; they could be grown along with the rest of
the crops in the world.

As is the case with most depredations blamed on the substance, it's most
often the law that creates the problem, not the substance. Walters'
argument, unfortunately for him, supports the desanctioning or legalization
of said products.

But there are enormous profits to be made in both the production of and
fight against illegal drugs. Both sides have a great stake in the
continuation of the status quo. The consumers (that means you and me), of
course, pick up the tab.

JOHAN MATHIESEN

Southeast Portland

Drug War Itself Destructive

John P. Walters' opinion piece of April 22, "The other drug war," argues
that U.S. consumption of cocaine contributes to environmental degradation
in Colombia. How hypocritical of him, considering it is the war on drugs
itself that causes the problems.

Our government has pushed and facilitated aerial spraying with herbicides
for drug eradication around the world. The chemicals sprayed are generally
not approved for such use under U.S. regulations, and several are banned
outright.

In Colombia, the spraying has caused destruction of staple food crops and
significant health problems among the peasants. Rural governors, as well as
environmental and social justice groups, have protested loudly, to no avail.

And the spraying is ineffective in its stated goals: The total output of
coca has actually increased, as farmers just replant deeper in the jungle,
thus opening up new areas to spraying.

CHRIS STEELE

Southeast Portland

Second 'Prohibition' Failing

The easiest way to save the Colombian landscape from slash-and-burn coca
planters is to re-legalize the use of cocaine here. John P. Walters wrote
that "U.S. residents consume nearly 260 metric tons of cocaine every year,"
which is a mountain of cocaine (April 22). And still the Republic stands.

It will stand even when cocaine is re-legalized. The nation's history
extends beyond Walters and his drug warriors, and for longer than our new
prohibition, all drugs were legal. The first Prohibition failed, and now
the second one is failing, too. Good riddance to bad law.

HARRY D. FISHER

Woodland Hills, Calif.

Turn Attention To Treatment

Our "drug czar," John P. Walters [director of the White House Office of
National Drug Control Policy], is correct in saying that the drug war is
causing immense harm to the Amazon ecosystem ("The other drug war," April 22).

However, he ignores the fact that coca growers are forced deeper into the
jungle by the State Department's spraying of poison on the farmers' fields.
He also ignores that the poison sprayed is far more destructive to
legitimate alternative crops than it is to the hardier coca plant, thus
rendering the carrot in the carrot-and-stick approach worthless.

Perhaps if Walters would focus more on the lack of treatment facilities in
this country instead of the vast production capacity in South America, the
Amazon jungle would not be cleared by destitute farmers trying to survive.

KEVIN OKABE

Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.