Dear Editor:

Thank you for publishing Redford Givens' outstanding letter ("Drug war only
exacerbates the problem, he contends," Thursday, May 30).

When Coca-Cola contained cocaine instead of caffeine, the term
"drug-related crime" didn't exist. Neither did drug lords or drug cartels.
Almost 100 percent of our so-called "drug related crime" is caused by drug
prohibition, not the drugs. During our so-called "noble experiment" known
as alcohol prohibition, thousands died and thousands went blind from what
was known as "bathtub gin." Since alcohol prohibition has ended, bathtub
gin has disappeared. So have gun battles in the streets between alcohol
dealers. When alcohol prohibition ended in 1933, the U.S. murder rate
declined for 10 consecutive years. Have we learned any lessons? Not yet!

Kirk Muse

Mesa, Ariz.