DECRIMINALIZING DRUGS

According to the front page of the Nov. 12, Telegram, "Cross-border council
calls for revamped drug strategy," U.S. and Canadian city officials have
all but conceded defeat in the war against drugs on both sides of the
border and all are in agreement that new strategies need to be considered.
But Seattle Mayor Paul Schell stopped short of saying drugs should be
decriminalized, probably because he represents many people who still
believe that beating your head against a brick wall is putting up a noble
fight.

Well, in my opinion, drugs should be decriminalized, regulated, and taxed
like tobacco and alcohol, but not taxed to the same extent. Then, taxes on
tobacco and alcohol should be gradually reduced to more realistic levels.
This would certainly reduce black market activity in this area, cut law
enforcement cost, and maybe make room in our prisons for real criminals. As
for those who feel that legalizing drugs would turn us into a nation of
junkies I can only say, give us a break. Anti-freeze, gasoline, vanilla
extract, Lysol and aftershave are legal but not many people use it to get
high.

We should try to encourage people, especially kids, to live a healthy
drug-free lifestyle and the best way to do that is by example but we can't
force them to do it. Just as you can lead a horse to water but you can't
force it to drink.

Roy Goodland,

Goulds

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski