Pubdate: Sat, 07 Apr 2007 Source: Kearney Hub, The (NE) Copyright: 2007 Kearney Hub Publishing Company Contact: http://hub.kearneyhub.com/forms/letter_editor.htm Website: http://www.kearneyhub.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3820 Author: Kirk Muse Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) STOP ARRESTING, JAILING: LEGALIZE DRUGS I'm writing about the Hub's March 30 story, "12 county residents face drug charges."The arrested dealers soon will be replaced. They always are. As long as people want recreational drugs and are willing to pay substantial prices, somebody will produce the drugs and somebody else will get the drugs to willing buyers. This much we can guarantee. It looks as if the taxpayers of Nebraska will soon be paying for the room, board and education on how to become "real" criminals for some, or all, of the arrested suspects. This seems like a waste. Why not re-legalize the drugs so they can be sold in licensed, regulated and taxed business establishments? What message would this send to children? The same message we send to children when we allow the sale of other "unapproved" substances like alcohol and tobacco. A free country's government cannot protect adult citizens from themselves. A free country's government has no right attempting to do so. Kirk Muse Mesa, AZ. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin