LEGALIZE DRUGS, END A PROBLEM

I'm writing about Kevin O'Connor's thoughtful letter: "War on gangs is
next step." I agree that the war on drugs has been a complete failure,
and a monumental waste of time, money and resources.

However, the answer is not decriminalization. The answer is full
re-legalization of all types of recreational drugs and having them
legally available in local pharmacies for pennies per dose.

Ninety years ago, when all types of recreational drugs were legally
sold in local pharmacies, the term "drug-related crime" didn't exist.
Neither did drug lords, drug cartels or even drug dealers as we know
them today.

We should legalize recreational drugs and not decriminalize them
because only legal products can be regulated, controlled and taxed by
our government.

Speaking of taxes, by keeping marijuana and other recreational drugs
as criminalized products we are wasting countless billions of dollars
in potential tax revenue.

It seem to me that non-marijuana users should welcome the idea of
taxing a product they don't use.

Kirk Muse,

Mesa, Az.