Pubdate: Tue, 24 Sep 2002
Source: East Valley Tribune (AZ)
Copyright: 2002 East Valley Tribune
Contact:  http://www.aztrib.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1795
Author:   Kirk Muse

LEGALIZE DRUGS, END DRUG-RELATED CRIME

The story, "Feds link drug ring to terror" (Sept.2) failed to mention why 
drugs and terrorists are linked: prohibition. When pure 
pharmaceutical-grade Bayer heroin was legally sold in local pharmacies for 
about the same price as Bayer aspirin, drug lords, drug cartels and 
drug-related crime didn't exist.

Criminals and terrorists are involved in the drug business for one reason: 
drug prohibition. It has caused easy-to-make drugs like methamphetamine to 
become more valuable than pure gold.

If all recreational drugs were legalized, regulated and controlled by our 
government, terrorists and criminals would get out of the drug business in 
a heartbeat.  Just like they got out of the alcohol business when alcohol 
prohibition ended.

As to the message we would send to our children if we again legalized 
recreational drugs: It's not the proper role of a free country's government 
to protect adult citizens from themselves.

Kirk Muse Mesa
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom