OUTLAWING MARIJUANA A WASTE OF TIME

Regarding "Cartels outrun, outgun the law at Ariz. border" (Republic, Oct. 3):

Is marijuana evil? Yes, of course, somewhat like alcohol and tobacco,
but we permit the consumption of the latter two because to do
otherwise would be an invitation to another illegal venture.

For 21 years, I served as a federal law-enforcement agent on the
Canadian and Mexican borders. I arrested smugglers, confiscated
marijuana, Cuban cigars, heroin and other drugs. Having removed what
I thought was a significant amount of drugs from our streets, I now
sadly know I accomplished little beyond bringing a serious problem to
the attention of a few caring people.

For decades, we have been naive in our belief that state and federal
drug agents would win a war with prohibitive legislation and threats.
We have successfully filled our prisons while supporting the
lucrative sale of drugs.

Whether an unconscious effort, or a hypocritical self-righteousness
about evil, we are making a lot of people in the United States,
Mexico and Columbia wealthy. We are relinquishing the management of
drugs to the criminal segment of our society.

We have shown that we can reasonably control the consumption of
alcohol and tobacco. Legalize marijuana and eliminate the corrupting profit.

Retail it and tax it at a price that will discourage smugglers and
back street vendors.

Until we do, we are smug in our self-deception, while in fact
condoning the illegal use of drugs.

Alvin L. Arnold

Wickenburg