2 CLASSES OF DRUGS

One of the many problems with having two classes of nonmedical drugs, one
legal and one illegal, is that people tend to think the legal drugs are
benign. James Ragland describes the horrible consequences of this attitude
with respect to alcohol and driving ("This road leads only to tragedy,"
April 26). A much better system of regulating nonmedical drugs would be to
sell them all, including alcohol and tobacco, only to people who have
applied for and obtained a permit to buy them. Advertising for nonmedical
drugs should be limited to in-store advertising and direct mail to permit
holders. Permits should be suspended or revoked if a person committed a
crime related to the drug, such as driving while intoxicated. Under this
system, people who are irresponsible enough to drive while intoxicated
could not legally buy alcohol, and few have friends who would risk
furnishing it to them.

Suzanne Wills, Drug Policy Forum of Texas, Dallas