Skagit Valley Herald
1000 E. College Way
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
http://www.newswest.com/svherald/
email: nancyerickson@newswest.com
LTE's 200 words Max.

May 14, 1997
Drugs
Get pushers off street
You printed my letter suggesting that it is time that we legalize the
sale of drugs as we legalized the sale of alcohol 60 years ago. I get
telephone calls by persons thinking that I am for the use of drugs. To
the contrary; I have come to believe, as some other have, that if drugs
were legalized there would be far fewer drug pushers and less drug use.
I do not believe that the repeal of Prohibition of alcohol 60 years ago
made more drunks.
National Public Radio gave us the British Broadcasting Co. talking
about the explosion of crime in Central and South America and Mexico
from the smuggling of drugs. (Prohibition of alcohol did the same.) They
concluded with the statement that the United States drug policy is a
"miserable failure" and will have to be dropped.
An article in the Washington Post tells of Mexicans being murdered for
getting in the way of running drugs. Policeman go over to the side of
drug runners to keep from being shot.
Prohibition 70 years ago made bootleggers millionaires. Is it that
politicians want more millionaire contributors to election campaigns
that they keep selling us on the idea of keeping drugs illegal?
If we really want to reduce crime and the use of drugs, then the way to
do it is as we reduced crime by repealing Prohibition of alcohol 60
years ago. Get the drug pushers who want to make a profit off the
streets.
Ev Oman
Anacortes

May 16, 1997
Hemp and Marijuana
Only stupid people need it
I saw the letter a few weeks ago about the poor misunderstood
hemp/marijuana. Excuse me?
Yes, it is addictive. yes, people lie, cheat and steal to get it; or
else they get it "fronted" and then give their dealer part or all of
their check. Then their babies can go without milk and diapers.
Also, how do these people know that pot doesn't cause accidents? The
last I heard there was no mandatory marijuana test available at an
accident scene.
Here's something to think about: How would you like to pick your
toddler up from day care or a family member only to see him/her chewing
on their favorite "pot pipe"? Wouldn't that make you a little upset?
Only stupid people need a stupid drug to make their little world go
around and ruin someone else's life.
Sarah Smith
SedroWoolley