THERE WOULD BE MANY BENEFITS FROM LEGALISING DRUGS

Sir,

Antonio Maria Costa (Letters, January 22/23) argues that the
legalisation of drugs would merely lead to an increase in the number
of addicts of certain drugs and would not curb organised crime because
of a fall in the price of those drugs.

He seems to overlook a number of points. First, legalisation would
reduce the enormous profits of the suppliers, causing a reduction in
supply in response to a fall in the price per tonne. Farmers would
have little incentive to grow drugs.

Second, your editorial "The unwinnable war on drugs" (January 15)
recognised that the link was between organised crime and the drugs
trade. It is certainly true that organised crime would divert its
attention to other, more profitable, areas but there would be
significant savings in the military and law enforcement areas due to
legalisation. One would expect to see rapid reductions in crimes such
as petty theft and prostitution as prices fell on the streets.

Indeed, some companies may be willing to enter into legal production
under a suitable regulatory environment that would ameliorate some of
the worst excesses of the current trade and addicts could be treated
as having substance abuse problems rather than as criminals. One can
speculate too on the impact of legalised drugs upon prison economies
where they are used as currency.

Mr Costa quotes the impact of the ending of prohibition but should
learn the lessons of history and study how the legalisation of alcohol
resulted in benefits to society, some of which accrued due to
organised crime switching away from production of alcohol, allowing
new entrants into the market and removing some of the corruption from
the law enforcement services.

There is more than one side to a story, all of which should be told,
especially if one has a vested interest in keeping the market for
drugs illicit.

GERRY O'NEILL

Wayne, NJ 07470, USA