LEGALIZING DRUGS WON'T DESTROY US

Thank you, Cynthia Tucker, for your note of sanity on the war on drugs
("Fallen Atlanta officer: War on drugs not worth cost in lives," April 11).

Alcohol, tobacco and sex, among other things, can be at least as
destructive. Their availability hasn't as yet brought about our downfall,
however.

Because a percentage of folks won't or can't stop with just one of
anything, why should their frailties translate to the rest of us?

What's wrong with allowing competent adults the choice to ingest certain
chemicals, and thereby reap the consequences of their own actions?

Legalize recreational drugs and tax them substantially; trade the prison
population of pot and crack users for drunken drivers; use some of the tax
revenue to establish drug maintenance or rehab clinics, and put an end to
the nation's reputation as being the most prolific consumer in the global
drug business.

LIN MOSS,

Atlanta