Pubdate: Sun, 17 Aug 2003 Source: Clarion-Ledger, The (MS) Copyright: 2003 The Clarion-Ledger Contact: http://www.clarionledger.com/about/letters.html Website: http://www.clarionledger.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/805 Author: Alan Randell Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03.n1205.a04.html Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) LEGALIZE DRUGS TO REDUCE THEIR HARM Your Aug. 10 article ("State's drug war changing") contains a pretty good clue about how to reduce the harm of illegal drugs. Consider this paragraph: "Moonshine whiskey produced in the state ran the gamut from the finest sipping whiskey to rotgut brews that left customers sick or dead from lead poisoning. The advent of legal liquor and beer in the state proved the death knell of the vast majority of illegal stills in the state beginning in the early 1970s." So let's legalize drugs and allow users to purchase clean, cheap, quality tested drugs at the corner store as tobacco users do today. Alan Randell Victoria, B.C., Canada - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin