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Regarding "Drug trade thrives on the West's denial" by Antonio Maria Costa (Views, Feb. 3):
International Herald Tribune | 02/10/2006

International drug policy is a complete failure. Partly responsible for this failure is the spread of misinformation, which is, indeed, "leaving young people confused."

When Costa complains that there is no clarity on just how dangerous "drugs like marijuana" are and in the next paragraph talks about "gunshots in the night and the sight of bodies stacking up in morgues" there is a clear intention to link the two ideas in the mind of the reader, even though such violence is related to crack cocaine.

In addition, Costa's stereotypical claim that "crime and drug addiction almost always occur in tandem" becomes meaningless tautology if we consider that obtaining drugs is illegal.

Claiming progress for international drug policy, and blurring of the differences between kinds of drugs for propaganda purposes, does not help anyone.

Tom Froese, Brighton, England


Antonio Maria Costa makes the common mistake of assuming that punitive drug laws actually reduce drug use.

Consider the experience of the former land of the free. Here in the United States, police searches on public transit, drug-sniffing dogs in schools and random drug testing have led to a loss of civil liberties, while failing miserably at preventing drug use.

The Drug War is in large part a war on marijuana. Despite clear evidence that draconian laws fail to deter use, the U.S. government uses its superpower status to export a dangerous moral crusade around the globe.

The short-term health effects of marijuana are inconsequential compared to the long-term effects of criminal records. The European Union should Just Say No to the American Inquisition.

Robert Sharpe, Arlington, Virginia


Sure, prohibition may help stop some from experimenting, but a drug's illegal status may actually attract some young users.

Sean McDonnell, Kobe, Japan

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