To the editor:

(Re: New Mexico governor tells students:
Legalize drugs, Oct. 5.)

At the outset, I would like to make it known that I am not an advocate
of drug use nor do I use drugs. But my parents lived through the
Prohibition era of the 1920s and they did tell me they made some "home
brew," as did most of their friends and neighbors, some of whom didn't
even drink at that time.

Finally some sensible thinking has come to the forefront of the
(illegal) drug use problem from a major political and intellectual
source in the person of the governor of New Mexico, the Honorable Gary
Johnson. It is also very significant that Gov. Johnson's view (on
drugs) also agrees with those of the American icon and intellectual
William F. Buckley Jr., who believes the current drug interdiction
policy of this country is a total sham and should be altered.

In my opinion, it is absolutely ludicrous to arrest or otherwise
incarcerate anyone for possession of marijuana, etc. Our jails and
prisons are replete with people convicted on "drug charges" that are
totally absurd!

FRED DIXON PURSLEY, Ph.D.
Seminole