Pubdate: Mon, 07 Aug 2000 Source: Daily News of Los Angeles (CA) Copyright: 2000 Daily News of Los Angeles Address: P.O. Box 4200, Woodland Hills, CA 91365 Fax: (818)713-3723 Feedback: http://www.DailyNews.com/contact/letters.asp Website: http://www.DailyNews.com/ Author: Herb Wiener SOMETHING DIFFERENT It appears that the Draconian taxes levied and assessed against tobacco are accomplishing the desired result of curtailing the number of smokers for two reasons: the exorbitant cost of the product; and the revenue generated allows for an advertising campaign to educate and discourage both children and adults from becoming addicted, or, if already addicted, to kick the habit. Why not use this successful approach and legalize drugs and tax those addictive substances? Then, instead of the enormous profits flowing into and enriching the pockets of evildoers and criminals, the taxes generated could be used as are the tobacco taxes. As a most welcome side effect, the cost of drugs would plummet, and users would no longer have to commit crimes to support their addiction. The present drug program has failed miserably; now it's time to try something new. Herb Wiener Encino - --- MAP posted-by: greg