TAXING ONE ADDICTION TO TREAT ANOTHER?

The writer of the letter "Thwart cigarette tax by kicking the habit" (March
16) offers his "ingenious insight" into how to prevent the state from
collecting more revenue by increasing taxes on cigarettes. He says simply:
Quit smoking.

I would respond with my own ingenious insight: So the state can spend the
$9 million budgeted for the treatment of drug addicts in other ways, I say
simply: Stop using drugs.

To continue to raise taxes on a product purchased by people addicted to
cigarettes (a legal substance) while providing millions for treatment of
people addicted to illegal drugs is mind-boggling to me.

Marvin Howell

Baltimore