Jim Barlow's Oct. 26 column tried to make an economic case for legalizing
drugs by making the point that drug profits are high and interdiction
efforts are not working, since supplies remain high enough to keep prices
relatively low. Drug prices have dropped despite efforts to stop the trade.

Decriminalization, according to Barlow, would have the effect of increasing
the number of addicts while profits in the drug business would plunge.

I agree with Barlow that removing the intimidation and stigma of criminal
penalties on addicts would surely increase their number. But by what weird
stretch of logic Barlow can conclude that profits would plunge is beyond me.

Legalization would eliminate the need for dealers to pay bribes and take
other expensive measures to smuggle their product, thus reducing their cost
of doing business dramatically. Legalization would increase demand and
reduce the cost of doing business a classic formula for booming profits.

There could be economic reasons for legalizing drugs, but Barlow fails to
make them. His arguments fail logically, economically and most important
they fail morally.

Gary Gentry, Houston