PROHIBITION IS DANGEROUS

After reading Elizabeth Hovde's thoughtful Oct. 21 opinion column, "War on
pot burns time, tax dollars," I'd like to add that marijuana is relatively
safe. However, marijuana prohibition is very dangerous. Dangerous because
marijuana then is sold only by criminals criminals who often sell other,
much more dangerous drugs, and who offer free samples to their marijuana
customers.

For the sake of our children, we need to regulate and control the sale of
marijuana. Only legal products can be regulated by our government. Only
legal products can be controlled by our government. And only legal products
can be taxed by our government.

Speaking of taxes, it seems to me that nonmarijuana users would be in favor
of taxing a product that they don't use. Around here, taxing someone else's
vice is very popular.

Kirk Muse

Mesa, Ariz.