EUROPEANS' APPROACH OF DECRIMINALIZING DRUGS IS A MODEL FOR THE U.S.

My comment is regarding the May 15 article "Europe Shifts Drug War From
Prisons to Clinics." It's amazing that we aren't considering reclassifying
marijuana as other countries are doing.

After 30 years of the "drug war," compare our results with the results of
the Netherlands. It has a lower rate of drug use and crime than the United
States. If the goal is to reduce drug use, it is only logical to consider
this approach.

It's also remarkable that this "harm reduction" approach has been in place
for decades in the Netherlands, yet we still refuse to even study the
option. A significant number of states have voted to permit the use of
marijuana for medical purposes, yet the federal government continues to
disregard the wishes of these citizens and enforces draconian drug laws in
states where medical marijuana has been legally permitted.

It's time to change the laws. People need to speak up and say it's time for
the federal government to respect our wishes.

Jon Milliren

South Side