IMAGINE A WORLD WITH LEGAL DRUGS

Your letters are typically creative and sometimes fun, but the recent mail
from Larry Frost of Bismarck was nothing but provocative in tone and content.

Frost has called me out: "Do you have the brains or the cajones enough to
meet the challenge?"

Stand back. Direct from the home office of Cajones 'R' Us, it's time to rumble.

You may recall that, after the Super Bowl, I penned a few thoughts on the
laughably ill-conceived commercials paid for by the President's Office of
National Drug Control Policy. Those messages contained a shameless and
cheap appeal to guilt by blaming America's recreational drug users for
funding international terrorism. I took exception to that, and Frost has
taken exception to me. His missive is a bit lengthy, but his concerns are
on target.

"Please lay out your vision of an America with marijuana and cocaine and
heroin legalized and 'controlled' by the government," Frost demands, "and
tell us how this would be an improvement over what we have now."

No disrespect meant, sir, but the part about "potential terrorists" comes
from President Bush, and he is far from wanting to legitimize any
controlled substances. Although I am prepared to set about my assignment
cheerfully, there is one small misgiving.

Why no talk about how things are now? I am sure the proponents of drug
criminalization, such as yourself, are proud of the many new prisons, the
crushed families, ruined lives and the unceasing insult of drug testing.
Asking me to expound on drug legalization without discussing current
conditions is akin to asking Patrick Henry to discuss freedom without
bringing up King George III, the Redcoats or taxation without representation.

One might just as well ask the preacher to give the plan of salvation and
not mention sin or Satan, but I believe Frost's intention is to focus our
argument on effects of my proposal once enacted. Fair enough.

Frost's first query is a dandy: "How will legal access to these heretofore
illicit drugs . . . improve the lives of the average American?" That one is
easy: Not much. Most of us are way too smart to fool around with mind
altering substances.

What about children? Frost puts it well: "If children and teen-agers can
already get access to 'controlled and taxed' alcohol and tobacco, what will
keep them from getting legalized addictive drugs?" Excuse me, but young
people get illegal drugs now, and often free till they are hooked. Dope
pushers are smart business people and know how to develop good customers,
and the artificially high prices are a fine incentive. Kids will be safer
when drugs are legal and controlled.

Frost is full of good questions. What about bootlegging? Anybody who lives
in a dry county ought to know that "white lightning" from an illegal still
is very dangerous stuff. Legalization makes alcohol safer for the consumer.
The same model will work for the substances which are now unlawful.

After 20 years of failed "get-tough" polices, we should have learned
something, but the war on drugs grinds away in the relentless assault upon
ordinary folks.

The latest easy target is the sick. Decent people would leave cancer
patients alone, but the feds are going after states where voters have
allowed medical marijuana. Insane. Immoral.

Larry Frost asked for my vision of America with legal drugs. Here goes. I
see a nation where the government listens to the people, who are free of
unreasonable searches, dehumanizing drug tests, racial profiling, drive-by
shootings, swarms of dope-dealing predators, the DEA and assorted pinhead
bureaucrats.

What could be more splendid than a country devoted to free enterprise and
individual liberty?