EXECUTE PUSHERS

Jose Rodriguez's solution to the pot problem fails to address several
issues. ("High time to legalize it," Feb. 20.) The solution to drug abuse
will not come as a result of legalizing pot or any other drug. The culture
we are in must first be changed to reject drug abuse. We have made major
inroads into stemming tobacco use. Those programs will be for naught if we
attempt to legalize pot.

Coddling addicts and implementing harm reduction programs will only
perpetuate the problem. If we want to get serious about stopping drug
abuse, we must consider solutions offered by other countries. Executing
pushers and caning users may seem draconian but it has virtually eliminated
drug abuse in Singapore and the associated costs caused by addicts preying
on the public. Their policing costs are a fraction of ours and they spend
much more on treatment programs than we do and with better results.

Patrick Carroll

(We don't even execute murderers!)