Pubdate: Mon, 11 Dec 2000 Date: 12/11/2000 Source: Baltimore Sun (MD) Author: William Smith In yet another colossal failure of the so-called "war on drugs," a Baltimore police officer has been accused of distributing the drug ecstasy ("City officer charged in drug case," Dec. 7). Aside from the fact that the government is again trying to convince the public that a danger exists from a relatively benign substance, this instance illustrates perfectly the corrupting influence of prohibition and the money it generates. The same sort of thing happened in the 1920s when alcohol was illegal. As long as this idiotic policy of prohibiting drugs is in place, it will happen again and again. William Smith, Baltimore