WAR ON DRUGS CAN'T BE WON

Richard Lee says we need U.S. government funding to prevent us from
becoming like Mexico in the drug war ("Hawaii needs funding to fight
drug problems," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Dec. 10). People get
alarmed at the latest drug scare so they say spend more money, give
police military hardware and ignore the usual Fourth Amendment
courtesies of knocking on the door before knocking it down. What we
have to show for it is more drugs and more violent criminals.

The way to avoid the fate of being a narco state is simple -- egalize
and regulate drugs. Apply similar requirements as alcohol and tobacco
so as to keep kids from getting them, dissuade irresponsible behavior
and require accountability among producers and retailers.

Keith Brilhart

Honolulu