I agree that legalizing drugs would eliminate some of the crime
involved in the high price of obtaining illegal substances for
personal use (Trashing rights won't stop organized crime, Editorial,
Sept. 15). It would also give back responsibility for personal actions
to those who need to shoulder it: drug users themselves instead of
law enforcement agencies.

It would also save millions in medical costs because addicts regularly
use the system to obtain drugs to sell on the street. Perhaps we would
also have money left to fund top-notch drug rehabilitation programs.

I don't think legalization would fly, however, because organized crime
has a vested interest in maintaining the status quo. It has more
political clout than the average citizen realizes. Even if it were not
so, the U.S. would not allow Canada to legalize drug use.

Carole White,
Langley