SPECIAL INTERESTS HINDER NARCOTICS LAW REFORM

Kudos to Veronica Rollin for her outstanding column ("Reconsidering
U.S. narcotics laws," Oct. 27).

When Coca-Cola contained cocaine instead of caffeine and sold for 5
cents a bottle, the term "drug-related crime" didn't exist. Neither
did drug lords, cartels or dealers, as we know them today.

Many currently employed in law enforcement are opposed to the idea of
legalizing any prohibited drugs. That's because if drugs were
re-legalized, we would need far less law enforcement personnel and
far fewer prisons and guards.

Thus, those in law enforcement and the prison industry would be
washing cars for a living. Of course, those opposed to legalizing
drugs because it would affect their livelihood would never say so;
instead they cite noble reasons such as protecting children - as if
the current policies could do that.

Kirk Muse, Mesa, Ariz. resident