LEGAL ERA SAFER

Even though I disagree with her conclusions, I enjoyed reading the guest
column by Brenda Katz. It was a well-written article reflecting much
thought on the subject of drug policy.

One technical error Ms. Katz made was that "some countries have legalized
drugs" is inaccurate. The United Nations controls world drug policy, so to
speak, and drugs are illegal worldwide. But it is true that several
countries in Europe have recently decided not to enforce certain of the
drug laws - a sort of decriminalization, I suppose.

Her letter was thought provoking, and I would like to ask a few questions
in response.

If legalization is not the answer, how is it that this country thrived
under legalized drug sales for perhaps 150 years or so, and then has
suffered so much in the 88 years since prohibition was instituted? How can
that be?

Why is it that under a system of prohibition (88 years old now) we have
contraband drugs being sold by children in school? Why is it that
contraband drugs are available in many prisons? Why is it that the
addiction level after prohibition is virtually the same as the addiction
level before?

Richard Sinnott, Fort Pierce