PROHIBITION PREPOSTEROUS

Editor, The News:

Re: (Much heat, little light at marijuana meeting, A8, Feb. 16) Perhaps I
can shine a little light on the issue.

Why do governments prohibit certain drugs? Is it to protect users from
harm? No, that can't be the reason because users suffer more (adulterated
drugs and jail time) when a drug is banned as compared to when it is
legally available; and besides, the most dangerous drugs of all, alcohol
and tobacco, are legal.

Is it to reduce the crime associated with illegal drugs?

No, that can't be the reason because banning a drug always gives rise to
more crime (drug cartels, petty crimes by users as prohibition makes drug
prices much higher, violent disputes between dealers) than when the drug is
legally available.

Is it to distract our attention from more important issues (and to provide
bigger budgets and free drugs for our police officers) by conducting a
brutal, Hitler-like pogrom against the innocent few who ingest or sell
certain drugs? Bingo!

Alan Randell,
Victoria