Pubdate: Mon, 05 Feb 2001 Source: Los Angeles Times (CA) Copyright: 2001 Los Angeles Times Contact: Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053 Fax: (213) 237-7679 Feedback: http://www.latimes.com/siteservices/talk_contacts.htm Website: http://www.latimes.com/ Forum: http://www.latimes.com/discuss/ Author: Harlan Green Note: Title provided by newshawk Referemced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n168/a05.html Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/traffic.htm (Traffic) REGARDING KLEBER'S COMMENTS ABOUT 'TRAFFIC' Kleber misreads the intent of Stephen Gaghan's comments about his friend. The screenwriter for "Traffic" gave a very balanced and compassionate look at the evils of the drug trade. The fact that said drugs were illegal enhanced the movie's message and his friend's "bad boy" image, as teenage smoking and drinking does for those younger than 18. The drug trade is so profitable because it is forbidden, as every study has shown. And hard-drug users are a very small percentage of those addicted, which include smokers and alcoholics. Why cannot the puritans of this world understand such simple economics, instead of continuing to throw money at their concept of evil? There are brave voices in this country now speaking for legalization so that these truly sick people can be humanely treated. We forget so easily that Prohibition did not stop us from drinking, just as the war on drugs will not stop illegal drug use. Only its legalization will! Harlan Green Solvang - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager