DEA OFFICIAL: LEGALIZING POT NOT THE PATH TO TAKE

Regarding "It's time to consider legalizing marijuana" (Opinions, Oct. 5):

The Republic's Robert Robb suggests a simple solution for the complex
problem of drug addiction . . . legalize and regulate the production
and distribution of marijuana.

Would America be a better place if more people used marijuana? I
don't think so.

Marijuana feeds addictions - so many that more teens enter treatment
for marijuana dependence than for all other drugs combined.

Crime, violence and drug use go hand in hand. Six times as many
homicides are committed by people under the influence of drugs as by
those who are looking for money to buy drugs. A recent report by the
Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America stated that during the
2005-06 school year, of those students who reported hurting others
with a weapon at school, 68.4 percent had used marijuana.

Legalizing marijuana, giving it the government's stamp of approval,
sends the message to kids that drug use is not only harmless but
normal. This is precisely the opposite message we should be
conveying, and will unquestionably increase usage. Let's not give up.
We need to continue our efforts to reduce the demand for drugs and
cut off the supply. Legalizing drugs is surrender.

When considering the legalization of any drug, ask yourself these
questions: Don't the two most abused drugs in society, alcohol and
tobacco (both of which are legalized and regulated) do enough damage?
Isn't every life worth fighting for? I think so.

- - Elizabeth W. Kempshall, Phoenix

The writer is special agent in charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration, in Phoenix.