Pubdate: Tue, 05 Feb 2002
Source: Orange County Register (CA)
Copyright: 2002 The Orange County Register
Contact:  http://www.ocregister.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/321
Author: Steven Rohde
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?203 (Terrorism)

DRUGS COULD BE DISASTROUS FOR UNITED STATES

In the column, "Terror and the war on drugs" [Commentary, Feb. 3], Alan 
Bock advocates ending the War on Drugs. Since I myself am undecided on this 
issue, I was disappointed that Bock didn't address the really tough 
questions. The phrase "ending the War on Drugs" is a euphemism for 
legalizing drugs.

So I want to know: Will we find ourselves with even bigger drug problems if 
we do this? Advocates of legalizing drugs are fond of pointing out the 
fundamental laws of economics that enable drug traffickers to reap enormous 
profits.

Well, don't these same laws predict that legalizing drugs will result in a 
dramatic increase in demand for, and use of, drugs? Won't legalization 
result in much lower prices, which, in turn, will result in much higher 
demand? And just how will drugs be legalized? Will they be sold by anyone, 
like cigarettes? Or will distribution be controlled, like prescription 
drugs? Should they be heavily taxed to artificially lower demand, as 
gasoline is? Before we surrender the War on Drugs we should be reasonably 
sure that the alternative isn't worse.

Steven Rohde, Aliso Viejo
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