LEGALIZING DRUGS BENEFICIAL

TO THE EDITOR: Legalizing drugs would greatly reduce the jail and prison
populations, saving thousands of dollars. By taxing these drugs, all levels
of government would see a drastic rise in funds. Legalization would provide
more money to pharmacies, thus raising more tax money. It would also
control the content, purity and strength of the drugs and reduce the allure
of drugs to our young people by removing the criminal status of drugs.

Keeping drugs illegal means continued overcrowding at all levels of the
penal system at an exorbitant cost to taxpayers. It means increasing the
allure of drugs to our children. Illegal drugs provide money to terrorists
through their drug cartels and allow unsafe and even lethal drugs on the
street. Finally, illegal drugs criminalize sick behavior.

Judith William, Newalla