To the Editor:

A remarkable thing happened in Pocahontas on Sunday, Sept. 24: a local group, the Chautauqua Club, hosted a thought-provoking discussion of drug policy.

The headline speaker, Judge James Gray of the Orange County, California Superior Court, told the crowd of about 130 that the War on Drugs is a failure. Judge Gray said that our drug prohibition has made cocaine the most profitable crop in the history of the world. The money from the underground market in drugs has not only made organized crime incredibly wealthy and powerful but has also corrupted police, politicians and foreign governments.

Drug prohibition has resulted in an endless stream of drug dealers attracted by big, easy money. No matter how many drug dealers we arrest and imprison, more are ready to take their place. We now imprison more people per capita than any country except Russia, and the majority are jailed for drug offenses. But building more prisons to deal with drug abuse is like building more graveyards to deal with a deadly disease, according to Judge Gray.

Just because we are willing to look at different options to our current drug policy does not mean that we condone drug abuse. On the contrary, those who refuse to consider alternatives are in effect endorsing the status quo, which is leading us toward more drug addicts, increasing crime, higher taxes and the loss of our civil liberties. As Judge Gray put it, if you want to keep getting what you’re getting, keep doing what you’re doing.

The Pocahontas drug policy symposium did not come up with any solutions, but we have begun the crucial process of talking together and listening to each other’s concerns. We encourage you to do likewise in your own community. It will take a grassroots effort to bring about needed changes.

Ben and Sylvia Olsen

Pocahontas, Iowa