LEGALIZE POT

The Caller-Times' otherwise excellent series on drug
trafficking in South Texas ignored the historical precedent in alcohol
prohibition, which fueled organized crime and violence in the early
1900s while failing miserably at preventing use. Drug policies modeled
after alcohol prohibition have given rise to a youth-oriented black
market.

Illegal drug dealers don't ID for age, but they do push highly
profitable, addictive drugs like meth.

Criminalizing consensual vices creates a self-fulfilling
prophecy.

Attempts to limit the supply of illegal drugs while demand remains
constant only increases the profitability of drug trafficking. In
terms of addictive drugs like heroin, a rise in street prices leads
desperate addicts to increase criminal activity to feed desperate habits.

The drug war doesn't fight crime, it fuels crime. Taxing and
regulating marijuana is a cost-effective alternative to the $50
billion drug war. Unlike alcohol, pot has never been shown to cause an
overdose death, nor does marijuana share the addictive properties of
tobacco or heroin.

Marijuana may be relatively harmless, but marijuana prohibition is
deadly.

Robert Sharpe (Washington, D.C.)