REGARDING KLEBER'S COMMENTS ABOUT 'TRAFFIC'

Kleber misreads the intent of Stephen Gaghan's comments about his friend.
The screenwriter for "Traffic" gave a very balanced and compassionate look
at the evils of the drug trade. The fact that said drugs were illegal
enhanced the movie's message and his friend's "bad boy" image, as teenage
smoking and drinking does for those younger than 18.

The drug trade is so profitable because it is forbidden, as every study has
shown. And hard-drug users are a very small percentage of those addicted,
which include smokers and alcoholics. Why cannot the puritans of this world
understand such simple economics, instead of continuing to throw money at
their concept of evil? There are brave voices in this country now speaking
for legalization so that these truly sick people can be humanely treated.
We forget so easily that Prohibition did not stop us from drinking, just as
the war on drugs will not stop illegal drug use. Only its legalization will!

Harlan Green

Solvang