EDITORIAL ON THE MARK

Editorial on the mark Your editorial on Sept. 25, "Find a drug program that
works and fund it," is right on the mark but could go further.
Short-circuiting the cycle of drug dependence with treatment programs both
inside and outside of the prison system is money well spent to reduce drug
abuse in this country.

I would also ask that the laws in this country reflect the difference
between soft and hard drugs --- which are often treated the same under both
federal and state laws. Drugs like marijuana should be treated and taxed
like alcohol. Alcohol is by far a more harmful drug than marijuana.
Regulate marijuana sales (legally) and tax the sales to fund treatment
programs for hard drugs. This not only allows law enforcement to
concentrate on hard drugs but reduces the exposure of those who use
marijuana to the black market sellers who also push the hard drugs.

Steve Helms, Southlake, Texas