DECRIMINALIZATION OF ADULT DRUG USE

Re "Martin Sheen Backs 'Ball Bat' to Help Druggies," by George Skelton,
Oct. 16: Martin Sheen may know a thing or two about acting, and he may know
a thing or two about addiction, but he sure doesn't know anything about the
dynamics of a black market. He decries the possible legalization of drugs
by saying this will make them more available to kids, but every scintilla
of evidence we possess indicates the opposite is true due to the dynamics
of the black market.

Let's look at the examples of alcohol, tobacco, firearms and prescription
drugs. All of these items can be purchased legally, but with tight
restrictions on who can buy them and where they can be sold. Very few black
market sources for these items exist when compared to the virtually
unlimited black markets for illegal drugs. With alcohol we even have the
lessons of Prohibition to call on, an era in which the violent marketing of
illegal booze is the stuff of legends.

So, Mr. Sheen, if you truly want to keep drugs out of the hands of
children, you will begin following the teachings of history and push for an
immediate decriminalization of drug consumption for consenting adults.

JERRY PARSONS Long Beach

If I understood your Oct. 15 editorial, you suggest that crime has had a
major drop across the nation, so we should now focus on rehabilitation and
stronger gun laws for all citizens plus different laws for drugs. Why not
focus on what has arguably gotten us where we are today--even stronger
sentences for all crimes--especially those that involve the use of a gun?
How about a two-strike penalty?

Most of the experts lament the number of people that we have in jail. Can
there really be a denial that there might be a correlation between more
criminals in jail and less crime on the streets? Sure, there are other
factors to consider, but the math is undeniable--plus-one in jail equals
minus-one on the streets. Let's make rehabilitation a separate issue--after
our streets are even safer.

JAKE CLARK Redondo Beach

Re your editorial and Skelton's column: The federal mandatory sentencing
guidelines' impact in the 1990s gave the U.S. the world's highest
incarceration rate and 2 million in jail/prison, many for nonviolent drug
offenses.

Hopefully, California voters realize the individual and social consequences
of the above can be mitigated by the passage of Prop. 36, as well as voting
either Green or Libertarian (both parties' presidential candidates calling
for an end to the political war on drugs). Alcohol, communism, drugs;
what's next?

BILL DELANEY Twentynine Palms