PROHIBITION OF DRUGS LEADS TO CRIMES

I am writing about George Krietemeyer's letter, "Illegal drugs tied to
other crimes" (Jan. 25). The illegal drugs cause almost no crimes. It
is the drug prohibition that causes crime. Almost all of our so-called
"drug-related" crime is actually drug-prohibition-caused crime.

Our country had a similar situation during the era known as alcohol
prohibition. Liquor sellers were killing each other and innocent
bystanders in turf battles. Now liquor sellers settle their disputes
with lawsuits, not gun battles.

When alcohol prohibition ended, the murder rate declined for 10
consecutive years. Have we learned any lessons? Not yet.

KIRK MUSE

Vancouver, Wash.