LEGALIZE DRUGS

I'm writing about the not-so-thoughtful letter from J. E. Spencer,
"Close revolving door for dealers" (Aug. 5). When our great
grandfathers relegalized alcohol in 1933, the illegal alcohol
producers and dealers were put out of business overnight. We could do
the exact same thing by re-legalizing all types of recreational drugs
and selling them in licensed business establishments. Then the drugs
would be regulated, controlled and taxed by our government - not criminals.

The United States is the most incarcerated nation in the history of
human civilization - thanks primarily to our counter-productive drug
policies. We have fewer than five percent of the world's population
but more than 25 percent of the world's prisoners. In other words,
one out of every four prisoners is locked in an American jail or
prison. I'm tired of paying for the room and board for people who
have harmed nobody except themselves or willing buyers of their product.

Our war on drugs has been a dismal failure. It's time to chart a new
course and do something different - substantially different.

Kirk Muse

Mesa, Ariz.