METH LABS ARE HORRIBLE, BUT MORE LAWS WON'T BE ABLE TO COMBAT THE PROFIT MOTIVE

Clandestine methamphetamine labs are certainly dangerous ("Attorney general
outlines priorities" Jan. 13 Summit Daily) and it is horrible these labs
are often in private homes near children.

It's similar to the problem of exploding backyard liquor stills, although
we don't seem to hear much about them since alcohol prohibition was repealed.

Perhaps we should consider that prohibitionist policies create a black
market with obscenely high profits, which causes people to take stupid
risks like manufacturing volatile substances at home.

If you're considering whether more laws will solve the problem, ask
yourself if more laws will eliminate the black market profits. The answer
is "no." And if the profits remain, no matter how many you arrest, someone
will always step in to provide the supply.

We need to look at new solutions that work.