Pubdate: Sun, 02 Jul 2000
Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch (VA)
Copyright: 2000 Richmond Newspapers Inc.
Contact:  P.O. Box 85333, Richmond, VA 23293
Fax: (804) 775-8072
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Website: http://www.timesdispatch.com/
Author: H. A. Hartung

DRUG LEGALIZATION THREATENS BLACK MARKET

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

It doesn't make sense, I thought while reading William Buckley's June
24 Op/Ed column, "McWilliams' Death Highlights Issue of Medical
Marijuana," which tells about fanatical imposition of federal
anti-drug laws.

Then I had a flashback to 50 years ago in a rural community where
there was no legal liquor but lots of moonshine. Fanatical opposition
to legalization was rooted in a church. One pillar of the congregation
was a bootlegger, another was the sheriff. "It doesn't make sense," I
blurted, when a friend described the situation.

He laughed and explained, "First, you need to understand that the
bootlegger's business will go down the tubes if liquor is legalized.
Second, it's a great cover for the crook when he's out in public to
pose as an anti. Third, the sheriff is getting paid off. He raids
stills but he's mainly fanatical about prosecuting people competing
with his friend.

As for the preacher and the congregation, some are sincere dummies.
However, there are certainly some hypocrites."

Thus, fanatical imposition of anti-drug laws really makes perfect
sense. One just has to figure that federal authorities are being paid
off. By advocating legal marijuana, McWilliams threatened to put the
black markets down the tubes and end the pay-offs. By the same token,
the fanatical support that many politicians give to the so-called "war
on drugs" makes perfect sense. Politicians are obviously great targets
for pay-offs from the exorbitant profits in the illegal drug trade.

H. A. Hartung.

Urbanna
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