ILLEGAL DRUGS

Prohibition Has Tragic, Unnoticed Results

John Virtue ridiculed the idea that the so-called war on drugs is a war on
the American people, and claimed most people consider the use of illegal
drugs to be immoral ("Contrary to Gazette's view, drug control policies are
quite successful," Letters, March 6). How is it moral to use force to lock
up or kill someone who has never harmed another soul, but has merely chosen
the wrong (i.e., culturally unapproved) drug for relaxation or medication?

Is morality simply a matter of legality? After all, there was a time when
marijuana was legal and alcohol was illegal. And who's going to explain to
Veronica and Charity Bowers, among many, many others (none of whom were
drug users yet whom were killed by drug warriors), that this is not a war
on people?

While we're educating people about the "harmful and destructive effects of
illicit drug use," let's be honest about the fact that the worst of these -
the drive-by shootings and gang warfare, the financing of criminal and
terrorist organizations (including the $43 million we taxpayers graciously
donated to the Taliban last year to fight this war), the deaths from
tainted drugs, the corruption of law enforcement officials, the shredding
of civil liberties - are all a direct, predictable result of prohibition.

Robert Herzfeld,

Colorado Springs