LEGALIZE ALL DRUGS

Dear Editor:

Re Grieving parents aim to raise awareness of drug problem, May
19.

Our hearts go out to Mike and Kim Argent as they grieve the loss of
their son to drugs.

Their situation brought to mind that terrible day back in 1993 when
two police officers knocked on our door to let us know our son, Peter,
had died earlier that morning. Later, we found out he had been
ingesting heroin the night before.

Our response to the loss of our son is not the same as that of the
Argents.

We felt then, as we do today, that Peter's death was brought about by
the law prohibiting certain drugs and not the drugs themselves.

When America prohibited alcohol, thousands were poisoned by
adulterated black market booze.

When alcohol was legalized again, the number of such incidents was
drastically reduced.

Today, our children are dying because of adulterated black market
drugs.

The carnage will end only when we come to our senses and allow users
once again to purchase clean, cheap, quality tested drugs at the
corner store just as tobacco users now do.

Let's finish the job we started when we ended alcohol prohibition and
legalize all drugs.

ELEANOR AND ALAN RANDELL

Victoria, B.C.