SOME SOUND REASONS FOR LEGALIZING DRUGS IN THE U.S.

Editor:

In James E. Hanners' response to Howard Wooldridge's letter he says, "It
implies that legalizing narcotics and other presently illegal drugs would
reduce America's drug problems, but doesn't explain how." I would like to
offer some reasons legalizing drugs would benefit society:

n If drugs were re-legalized, as they were prior to 1913, there would be no
black market enforced by violent organized criminals. Prior to 1913 the
term "drug related crime" did not exist.

n When Bayer Heroin was available for the same price as Bayer aspirin at
the corner drug store approximately 4 percent of the population has drug
abuse problems. Today about 4 percent of the population has drug abuse
problems despite the fact we spend billions and billions of dollars on law
enforcement and prisons. Most addicts were able to maintain jobs to support
the low cost of the habit.

n When all drugs were legal the worst thing an addict could do was damage
their own life with drugs. Now if a person becomes dependent on an illegal
drug they often have to steal or commit other crimes to pay the inflated
black market prices to obtain the drug.

n Keeping drugs illegal discourages people from seeking treatment.

How may people do you think would attend Alcoholics Anonymous if it meant
confessing to a illegal activity which you could be jailed for?

n The drug laws can corrupt police and other people in power.

The lure of the vast amounts of money that can be made on the black market
are too tempting for even some of our finest.

n If we did not spend all those billions of dollars on police and
enforcement we could offer first class treatment and education to all drug
users when want to quit.

I would like to see if Mr. Hanners can dispute any of these facts and
societal benefits.

David Lane,

Santa Cruz, Calif.