COMPARISON UNACCEPTABLE

I avoid debates about the war on drugs, because the debate has become
nearly as useless as the actual war. The letter Jan. 12 ("No to
legalization") forced me to make an exception. In what other subject
would a reference to an 1858 China law be considered an acceptable
point of comparison when addressing a modern government policy?

On May 13, 2010, The Associated Press reported that after 40 years and
$1 trillion, the war on drugs has been completely ineffective.

Marijuana is legal in all but name in California and 16 other states.
Even so, these states have not descended into the bacchanal chaos
predicted by the opponents of legalization.

Drugs eventually will be legalized nationally; one day a politician
will display the bravery and basic math skills to admit it is a waste
of money. Until then, could defenders of this discredited idea at
least keep their rationalizations confined to the past 100 years?

Robert D. Way

Lincoln