YES, DONNIE, WE SHOULD END THE WAR ON DRUGS

Speaking as a retired detective, I heartily agree with the thoughts
of Donnie Johnston ["Is it time for a truce in the war on drugs?" July 22].

My profession has spent just over a trillion tax dollars on the war
on drugs. The results? Drugs are cheaper, stronger, and more readily
available to our teens.

Prohibition is the prime driver of felony crime in the U.S. Millions
of good citizens have been made victims because a crackhead needs $200 a day.

Seriously, if Charlie and his friends die from cocaine, who cares? My
sympathy is with the homeowners whose homes are broken into.

About 98 percent of us do not need a law to keep us from using hard
drugs. Will we ever be as wise as our grandparents and repeal
prohibition? Or will we waste another trillion dollars just to see
what happens?

Howard Wooldridge

Buckeystown, Md.