Pubdate: Sat, 16 Jun 2012 Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA) Copyright: 2012 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc Contact: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/340 Author: John Brodsky Page: A9 WAR ON DRUGS The reason the war on drugs is a failure is that the negative effects which have evolved for our protection are more easily washed away with chemicals than corrected by alteration in our thinking and behavior ("Efforts to decriminalize marijuana growing," Monday). Except for emotional emergencies, psychotropic drugs can be counterproductive. Legalization in the name of personal freedom makes sense and will reduce criminal behavior and save us much money and aggravation - profiteering by drug companies aside - but we should not lose sight of the fact that anxiety, distress, anger, shame, "depression," and the like are warning signals in our lives. John Brodsky, Swarthmore - --- MAP posted-by: Matt