Discutiendo las drogas.

• Position: Legalizaci

I read with interest your recent editorial about Colombia legalizing the drug business (June 1999). I have been involved in the legal, area for many years in the United States and think people should be aware of some very important facts regarding this emotional issue.

First, the DEA fails to inform U.S. citizens that illegal drugs in the U.S. are responsible for only about 15,000 deaths per year (mainly from heroin & cocaine--there are no reported cases of anyone overdosing on marijuana) compared to over 150,000 deaths from legal prescription drugs, and over 350,000 deaths due to alcohol and nearly 400,000 due to tobacco (which is an addictive product). These numbers don't seem to justify on a "cost/benefit" ratio the US$14 billion or so we spend on drug interdiction in the U.S., not including prison costs.

Second, Amsterdam has decriminalized drugs and does not have the problems the U.S. has with drug violence and gangs. Since the sales are handled through businesses, the state receives taxes and the consumer gets a product with reasonable assurances it is not adulterated which is not the case with 'street' drugs. Since its legal there are no gang shoot-outs over "control."

Finally, U.S. drug policy ignores the medical benefits of non-addictive marijuana, which could prevent some 6 million people worldwide from going blind with glaucoma, and its ability to counter nausea by the thousands of chemotherapy and AIDS patients. If pot were legalized, the drug agencies could focus on the more serious drugs, such as alcohol. How about the drunk who flipped his truck on a...