Punish instigators of ‘war on drugs’

Dave Lane, Santa Cruz, Calif.

Tuesday, July 15, 2014 | 2 a.m.

Thank you for publishing the July 7 column about the failures of the “war on drugs.”

I would go even one step further and say that for justice to be served, those who continue to support and promote prohibition should be held accountable for the death, crime and ruined lives it causes. Many of these people have been cashing in on the drug-war gravy train for far too long. The police, prisons and rehabs industries all have vested interests in maintaining the status quo, and unfortunately they can also influence public opinion and are often quoted as subject matter experts without citing why their opinions are unduly biased.