COST OF ADDICTION

I'm writing about Roger Mattson's Sept. 9 letter, "Seeds of Addiction
Planted Early."

Addiction is usually not a problem unless the substance people are
addicted to is illegal. Lots of people are addicted to products
containing caffeine, myself included. I could quit if I wanted to, but
I don't want to.

Addiction to coffee containing caffeine is affordable for most people.
Almost nobody has to rob, steal or commit acts of prostitution to
purchase coffee.

Criminalize coffee and the situation would soon change. Then coffee
would be untaxed, unregulated and controlled by criminals and very
expensive -- just like marijuana is today. How would coffee consumers
feel if their beverage of choice was criminalized by our nanny-state
government?

Probably the same way marijuana consumers feel today.

KIRK MUSE

Mesa, Ariz