TO LEGALIZE OR NOT TO LEGALIZE

Dear Alibi,

The articles on the drug war in the Dec. 5-11 issue were certainly
depressing. Logic seems to play little role in the case for the drug laws
made by the government. The only possibility for making points with these
people is to appeal to their professed belief in the free markets. Because
drugs are illegal, what cost pennies to produce can be sold for dollars and
this is an enormous incentive for the criminal element to involve itself.
Interdiction, the centerpiece of enforcement, reduces supply without
reducing demand. At best, interdiction raises both drug prices and drug
profits, encouraging more illegal drugs to be brought to market.
Interdiction makes the problem worse. The only way to successfully fight
illicit drugs is to reduce the profitability. This can only be accomplished
by decriminalizing drugs, i.e., giving the drug user a legal alternative
for obtaining the drugs.

If drugs were available to users at clinics at no cost or even a small
cost, this would take them out of the hands of the dealers. It would also
put them in contact with medical professionals. The problems associated
with tainted needles or tainted drugs would be eliminated. Treatment could
be offered to those who desire it.

Marijuana could be sold at these clinics, or better at drug stores or
liquor stores. Marijuana sold at these facilities could have a tax stamp
and only marijuana with the tax stamp would be legal. Anybody appearing
under the age of 40 would be ID'd, making it more difficult for minors to
obtain the marijuana. The profits from the marijuana sales could underwrite
the costs of the clinics. By regulating the sources of drugs, government
could then focus on the more serious problem of drugs being made available
to minors.

I expect none of this to happen. Too many careers are at stake in
organizations like the DEA. The criminal organizations profiting from
illegal drugs would act like any other special interest, funneling obscene
amounts of campaign money to candidates who are opposed to any form of
decriminalization. We can hope that the national mood is changing but I
have my doubts.

James L Munroe

Albuquerque