LET'S TAKE PROFITS OUT OF DEALING ILLEGAL DRUGS

The People Speak

On your article on states' rights and cannabis (marijuana was a
made-up name to frighten people in the 1930s), why is there even a
question?

If anyone thinks that by outlawing any substances, we will make them
go away, let's look at some facts.

Tricky Dick started this failed policy over 35 years ago. Is it
working?

We have spent untold billions of dollars for interdiction, court
costs, incarceration, felony records for non-violent offenders
(they'll never get decent jobs again), and last but not least,
street-dealers will never check your kids ID before selling whatever
they have the cash to buy.

But maybe the worst part of this folly is the simple fact people no
longer believe in their government. They have lied about their success
in controlling and winning the war on drugs. Every large bust is
valued by officials. They proudly proclaim a value of millions. Then
they admit that they only stop a small percentage of total shipments.

Simple deductions tell us the amount of money going into the
underworld. If our government were collecting this money, instead of
just outlaws, we might be able to help some real problems. If the
profits were gone, nobody would be willing to die, or murder, for
little or nothing.

And remember a couple of years ago when the NRA told us, "When guns
are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns"? Don't you think the same
holds true for drugs? Isn't it time to take an adult attitude and
demand that the government do its real job? That would be as simple as
taking the profits out of the illegal black market. Take real control,
regulate, dispense, tax and keep drugs out of the hands of our kids.

Adults should have the right to get drugs if they choose. They already
do with alcohol and tobacco. Some people will do stupid things. But
who among us is so wise that we should dare to decide for other adults
how to live their lives?

J.D. LAPE

Monticello, Ark.