If the United States were to buy the entire crop of poppies grown in Afghanistan (at market price), the following might very well happen: Afghan farmers would be happy; the world’s supply of heroin would be dramatically reduced; the cost to the US taxpayer for drug interdiction would be lower and the Taliban would be royally angry (“Afghan Herion,” Ralph Peters, Post Opinion, July 26).

The United States could destroy some of the crop and sell the rest to pharmaceutical companies, which face shortages of the morphine base.

R. Schoeneman,

East Setauket