Pubdate: Thu,  7 Mar 2002
Source: Clarksdale Press Register (MS)
Copyright: 2002, Clarksdale Press Register
Contact:  http://www.pressregister.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1656
Author: Kirk Muse
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n374/a08.html

US SHOULD TAKE CUE FROM FAILURE OF ALCOHOL PROHIBITION

Dear Editor:
Thank you for publishing Robert Sharpe's outstanding letter (Drug war 
isn't working, says decriminalization advocate," Saturday, March 2).

I would like to add that almost all of our so-called "drug-related" 
crime is caused by drug prohibition. Nobody was robbing, stealing or 
committing acts of prostitution to purchase drugs when Bayer heroin 
was legally available at local pharmacies for about the same price as 
Bayer aspirin.

When Coca-Cola contained cocaine instead of caffeine and sold for 5 
cents a bottle we didn't have drug dealers as we know them today. 
Since alcohol prohibition ended in 1933, liquor sellers no longer 
settle their disputes with gun battles in the streets as they did 
during alcohol prohibition.

Alcohol prohibition didn't work and drug prohibition isn't working 
either except to provide for full employment for those doing the 
prohibiting.

Kirk Muse,
Mesa, Ariz.
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MAP posted-by: Josh