THE COCAINE WAR

There is a simple method to reduce demand and the profitability of the drug trade instantly and at little cost. The government should “salt” seized cocaine shipments with an appropriate chemical and unobtrusively reintroduce them into the drug market. The chemical should result in short-term illness such as nausea and vomiting. A user would never know whether he would get high or be sick for a week. Demand and price would plummet. Look at the public reaction to contaminated Tylenol or Chilean grapes.

DAVID FASHENA

Pasadena