Pubdate: Wed, 05 Dec 2007 Source: Tennessean, The (Nashville, TN) Copyright: 2007 The Tennessean Contact: http://www.tennessean.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/447 Author: Robert Bird Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n1384/a03.html LEGALIZE MARIJUANA AND END WAR ON DRUGS To the Editor: I was happy to see The Tennessean's support of legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes. Perhaps this will be the start of the end of the money pit referred to as the "war on drugs." This massive failure absorbs billions of our dollars and accomplishes nothing except to line the pockets of the producers and distributors of illegal drugs. The war on drugs has caused contempt for the sanctity of our borders. It supports corrupt governments around the world and it is generally responsible for high crime rates, murders and turf wars among those in the business and their unfortunate "customers." The war on drugs will never succeed as long as there are major profits to be made by the bad guys. Control drugs, tax drugs and use the funds generated to rehabilitate those who find it impossible to stop on their own. Can't we learn from the failed efforts to eliminate alcohol some 75 years ago? Robert Bird, Cookeville 38501 - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom