Pubdate: Sat, 08 Jan 2000
Date: 01/08/2000
Source: Saint Paul Pioneer Press (MN)
Author: Ernest Melby

New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson is right about making drugs legal. We
have spent billions trying to eliminate these substances with no
success. Now many people would like to add tobacco to the list. I
don't expect drugs to be legalized and controlled, not because it
doesn't make sense, but because the present system has produced a
bureaucracy dependent on drugs to exist.

I also don't believe most antismoking organizations would want people
to quit smoking, nor antialcohol organizations want people to quit
drinking Their purpose and financial benefit depends on the
continuation of these activities.

Health might have been the initial purpose for laws and their
enforcement. I think this reason has long since been discarded for a
new purpose which is money.

Ernest Melby
Roseville