LEGALIZATION IS NOT ANSWER

I often hear opinions like those of Kirk Muse's June 18 letter,
"Regulation reduces harm," suggesting that legalization and control
of drugs would end many of the drug-associated problems.

I think their ideas are very short-sighted.

If illegal drugs were sold to the public, would that also include the
most harmful like meth, crack cocaine, heroin, LSD, acid, etc.? Would
they be available at all hours? Sold to minors and pregnant women?
Who would care for all the addicts, no longer able to function or
hold a steady job? How about restrictions on when and where these
drugs would be possessed? Could an airline pilot carry them on a plane?

There would be a never-ending list of new restrictions to be
enforced. When alcohol was legalized, did that stop the alcohol
problems? Yet, there are those who suggest that legalizing much more
harmful and addicting items would not create more problems. If
legalizing drugs is the answer to solving our enforcement problems,
then why not legalize theft, assault, weapons violations, etc.?

Legalization is not the answer.

Steve Douglass

Vancouver