LEGALIZING DRUGS WOULD HELP KIDS

Dear Editor: Voice of the people contributor Lisa C. Marshall asks the
highly pertinent question "How is legalizing drugs going to protect the
children?"

Simple. By removing the profit motive, legalization will reduce young
people's exposure to drug sellers.

Taverns and convenience stores are legitimate businesses that operate out
in the open. Their owners know they can lose their licenses and face heavy
fines if they sell alcohol or tobacco to minors. Since they make almost all
their money by selling to adults, it's simply not worth the risk for them
to sell to kids. That';s why they're pretty diligent about asking for ID cards.

On the other hand, dealers of pot and crack and smack take no bigger risk
selling to kids than adults, and the money is just as good, so they have
every reason to pursue the youth market.

Legalize drugs, impose an age requirement on buying them, and we will
actually be doing a better job of protecting our young people from getting
them than we are now.

Richard S. Russell
Madison