END POT PROHIBITION

Lucy Perkins is absolutely right ("Drugs R Us," June 11). Almost every
state in the Union is facing budget shortfalls, yet we continue to waste
billions in pursuit of the failed social policy of Prohibition. What began
with the noblest of intentions, to protect society from the ravages of drug
addiction and to protect citizens from themselves, has morphed into the
Drug War, Inc., a massive workfare program for police, courts and prison
guards.

Establishing a legal, tightly regulated market where adult citizens who so
chose may purchase alcohol has proven to be vastly more successful in
keeping booze out of the hands of children, eliminating the violence of
turf wars, getting help for problem drinkers, and generating a reliable
revenue stream for the state than Prohibition ever did. Why wouldn't we
expect similar results by extending the same model to cannabis?

- -- Greg Francisco, Paw Paw, MI