PROHIBITION NEVER WORKS

As a former Vancouver resident, I read a thoughtful Sept. 18
editorial, "Rampaging meth."

There's one law, if passed by Congress, that would completely put the
illegal meth labs out of business overnight. That would be a law
making pharmaceutical-grade amphetamines legally available in local
pharmacies for pennies per dose.

Ninety years ago when all types of recreational drugs were legally
available in local pharmacies for pennies per dose, we didn't have
clandestine drug labs or drug-related crime. And drug dealers, as we
know them today, didn't exist.

Increasing law enforcement efforts will only make the product more
profitable. No product can be eliminated by making it more profitable.
Oklahoma has some of the toughest anti-meth laws in the country, yet
meth use and production is at record levels in Oklahoma and dozens of
other states.

Prohibition doesn't work. It never has and never will, except to
assure full employment for those doing the prohibiting. When alcohol
prohibition ended in 1933, the "bathtub gin" producers went out of
business for economic reasons, and they have stayed out of business
for economic reasons. When alcohol prohibition ended in 1933, the U.S.
murder rate declined for 10 consecutive years. Have we learned any
lessons?

Not yet.

Kirk Muse,

Mesa, Ariz.