WRITER'S SILLY COMPARISONS USE LITTLE REASONING

EDITOR: Mocking Canada's proposal to decriminalize marijuana possession
(Make it all legal, June 2), Steven Lusk suggests reforming drug laws is
tantamount to legalizing murder, robbery and rape, facetiously proposing
that systematically licensing such crimes would benefit society and create
new career opportunities.

Lusk's comments spotlight his own potential for a new occupation: clown. His
silly remarks aren't really argument, just frivolous distraction. It's easy
to imagine yesteryear's simpletons indulging in similar theatrics when
alcohol prohibition was questioned. Anyone can see murder and rape, plain
evils universally sanctioned, differ fundamentally from the regulatory
minutiae of controlled substances.

Indeed, there is no evidence legalizing alcohol caused the slightest
departure from our traditional standards of law, order and justice; likewise
there is no reason to believe reforming today's drug laws would undermine
society's core principles.

Alas, Mr. Lusk's flawed reasoning compares favorably with that of our
political leadership who have demagogued drug policy so fervidly for so long
that fantasy virtually has supplanted reality in this matter. Accordingly,
it's unsurprising to see Canada and other nations formerly in lockstep with
U.S. policy quietly departing to pursue their own courses. Allies or no,
responsible leaders can only be expected to abandon a ship of fools while
disaster is still avoidable.

Mett Ausley Jr.

Lake Waccamaw, N.C.