THE LCB MODEL

Thank you, columnist Tony Norman, for your incisive critique of the
insane war on drugs ("Stop the Drug War Now, More Than Ever," March
24). Recently National Public Radio quoted a Mexican security expert
affirming Mr. Norman's argument: "You are trying to fight the
invisible hand of the market with the long arm of the law and
historically the invisible hand wins."

Prohibition is the opposite of regulation. By prohibiting a "vice"
that people want to indulge, be it gambling, tobacco, alcohol or any
other intoxicant, the government simply hands control of that market
to criminals.

Just how would we start regulating and taxing drugs like marijuana
here in Pennsylvania? I would propose utilizing our much-maligned
Liquor Control Board. The state is never going to relinquish its cash
cow and it is starving for a new revenue stream. Complain all you will
about the PLCB, but the state store system is designed to strictly
control both the customer, the product and the revenue. It
accomplishes its mission very well and thus would be the perfect
vehicle to distribute and tax intoxicants, taking the market away from
thugs and providing the cash to mitigate the inevitable damages. Just
like we do now with booze.

Robert Steffes

Aliquippa