IS BANNING DRUG ECONOMICAL?

A recent government study tells us marijuana is the most frequently
used illegal drug in the United States. More than 83 million Americans
older than the age of 12 have tried marijuana at least once. More than
12 million had used the drug in the month before the survey.

A recent essay "Make marijuana a legal cash crop" (Commentary, Aug. 5)
reported that, despite intensive eradication efforts, domestic
marijuana has increased tenfold over the past 25 years. Its
proliferation to every part of the country demonstrates that marijuana
has become a pervasive and ineradicable part of the economy.

Should we add another 83 million to our jails and prisons (since it is
illegal), or make marijuana a legal cash crop? I'm not so sure it
would even be cost-effective to treat 83 million people for marijuana
use.

Let's not forget marijuana's medicinal benefits, along with another
variety of marijuana (hemp) that can be used for bio-diesel fuel,
rope, paper and many other products.

I'm no economic expert, but this doesn't make much sense. It didn't
make much sense to Milton Friedman either, and he was an economic expert.

Dawn Palmer

Tarrant