LEGALIZING DRUGS WOULD COLLAPSE, NOT STRENGTHEN, INTERNATIONAL DRUG CARTELS

This is a response to Joseph Howard's following quote: "Additionally,
if you buy marijuana, there is an excellent chance that you are
supporting international drug cartels, composed of some of the most
homicidal and psychopathic human beings in the Western Hemisphere."
This is one of the primary reasons for legalizing drugs.

If drugs were legalized, the international drug cartels would
collapse.

They depend upon the high prices for drugs created by their
illegality, with resulting scarcity.

If drugs were produced by legal farmers, chemists, etc., we would also
benefit financially in three ways: First, legal producers would make a
profit.

Second, we would get sales tax [revenues] off the stuff.

Third, we could reduce taxes by a sizable amount in the ending of the
horribly expensive war on drugs.

I agree with Mr. Howard that it would be best if people didn't do pot,
and I will go further that they not use prostitutes, drink alcohol,
etc. We cannot prohibit every activity known to man. A man has the
right to be stupid.

It is not for me or Mr. Howard to tell them how to live their lives,
as long as they harm no one other than themselves. This is basic
Libertarian thought, and that of the founders of our country.

I am not, nor have I ever been, a drug user. Read more at my Web site:
http://members.aol.com/ncsenateseat28.

Clarence Ervin Young, Libertarian candidate for the 28th District,
North Carolina Senate

[Editor's note: A letter printed in our May 24 issue by Joseph Howard
- "Skip the pot, get a life" - apparently created a firestorm of
controversy across America, after being posted on Web sites such as
the one run by the Media Awareness Project. Because of the number of
responses, some of the letters below are appearing only online.]