PROHIBITION UPS PRICE OF POT

Your Feb. 12 article "Mailbox leads cops to pot luck" mentioned a
"million-dollar marijuana plantation" discovered by police in Vercheres.
Sounds like a big deal. But how much would the marijuana be worth if it
weren't for the ongoing war against drugs? Does anyone really believe that
this easy-to-grow weed would be worth more than its weight in gold?

Since we don't allow legitimate, regulated business people to participate
in the lucrative market in recreational drugs, the high prices imposed by
prohibition provide a lovely business opportunity for organized criminals
(remember Al Capone in the days of alcohol prohibition?).

Keith Sanders, Oakland, Calif.