PROHIBITION JUST DOESN'T WORK

I'm writing about Jason Baker's thoughtful letter: "DARE to resist
the propaganda" (The News, Sept 21).

Common sense tells us that the DARE program should deter our youth
from using illegal drugs. But it doesn't.

In reality DARE graduates are more likely to use illegal drugs - not less.

Common sense tells us that the Earth is the center of the universe
and our solar system. But it's not.

Common sense tells us that prohibiting a product should substantially
reduce the use of the product that's prohibited.

Actually, prohibition tends to substantially increase the desire for
any product that's prohibited.

Before marijuana was criminalized in the U. S. via the Marijuana Tax
Act of 1937, the vast majority of Americans had never heard of marijuana.

Now everybody in the U. S. knows what marijuana is and the U. S.
government estimates that at least 90 million Americans have used it.

About half of all high school students will use marijuana before they graduate.

People want what they are told they cannot have - especially
children. The lure of the "forbidden fruit" is very powerful.

Kirk Muse

Mesa, Arizona