DRUGS: LEGALIZATION RESULTS WITHOUT PROOF

Dear Editor

As a member of the psychedelic revolution, I agree with much of what
Russell Barth wrote [Legalization the answer, Sept. 21, Langley Advance News].

However, he distorts the situation when he writes, "All the evidence shows
that crime and violence would decrease."

There is no scientific way anyone can prove such a claim without an
exhaustive investigation that would take decades to complete, and even then
it would still require embellishing the facts.

Furthermore, there is only one reason humans drink alcohol and ingest drugs
- - to help them through one more day of stress, fear, and loneliness, and to
think better of themselves.

To suggest that crime and violence decreased because of, rather than in
spite of, the legalization of alcohol is to display considerable naivety.

We should all be free to do whatever consenting adults want to do for
pleasure, but we are already free to do as we please.

He obviously doesn't think others should be equally free to disagree with
him breaking the law under the guise of ridding society of a "bad" law.

Whether legalization or decriminalization of drugs is a good idea or not, I
don't know, but l question the wisdom of believing that crime and violence
will decrease as a result.

Ken J. Marsh

Langley City