LEGALIZE OPIUM SALES

Re: Buying Afghan poppies no solution, letter to the editor, June 5.

Letter-writer Colonel Brian MacDonald offers some interesting numbers
on world morphine supplies to support his endorsement of keeping
illegal the Afghan opium poppy market. What he ignores are the two
most prominent reasons for legalizing poppy production -- not only in
Afghanistan, but worldwide.

First, in the unlikely event producers of morphine and other opiod
medicines were to create a surplus in supply, one immediate result
would be a great reduction in price. Seems the only ones who might
object to that would be the current, relatively small number of legal
producers who enjoy the mega-profits assured by an unduly tight
supply worldwide.

More urgent is that as long as this extremely in-demand product is
left illegal, neither its production nor its distribution can be
responsibly regulated. Instead, 100% of control remains in the hands
of the criminal cartels, gangs and terrorist organizations that use
the profits to further even more crime around the globe. Seems the
only ones who might object would be those who currently profit from
this illegal, unregulated trafficking.

It's time to sensibly legalize and regulate opium poppies. Lower
prices will allow more ready access for legitimate medical
applications. And moving production and distribution off the streets
will immediately disempower terrorists and violent cartels. Win, Win.

Stephen Heath

Clearwater, Fla.