GET RID OF DRUG PROHIBITION

Mack Croft continues the discussion of U.S. drug laws, writing, "People of
physical and intellectual stature have no need for marijuana, drugs and
other junk."

Neither do people "need" cable television, cosmetic surgery or a tattoo.
Government should only intervene in people's lives when they harm others or
disrupt society, not merely because they fail to meet someone's notion of
"stature."

Croft writes, "Drugs are mind warping and physically destructive." I agree
the psychological and physical risks of both legal and illegal drugs should
be taken seriously. If you look at the scientific literature, you find
marijuana is uniquely benign. Alcohol and tobacco directly contribute to
half a million deaths each year. Adverse reactions to legally administered
prescription drugs kill 30,000 people each year. There has never (ever!)
been a death attributed to "marijuana poisoning."

Croft also writes, "most crime is committed nowadays to obtain money to buy
drugs." I question this statement at face value. The pitiable drug addict
who steals to obtain artificially expensive drugs is statistically
uncommon, and never associated with marijuana. On the contrary, most
"drug-related" crime is created or made worse because of drug prohibition.
As with alcohol prohibition in the 1920s, drug prohibition ends up
financing violent criminal organizations by artificially ensuring an
outrageously lucrative black market, and makes criminals of otherwise
law-abiding citizens.

To end "drug related" crime, end drug prohibition by controlling all drugs
as we currently regulate alcohol, tobacco, and pharmaceuticals.

Stan Burnett, Orem