Pubdate: Fri, 4 Dec 2009
Source: Herald, The (Everett, WA)
Copyright: 2009 The Daily Herald Co.
Contact:  http://www.heraldnet.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/190
Author: Amy Modica Myers

FIRST, FRAME THE DEBATE PROPERLY

I found the relationship between two Nov. 24 letters most
intriguing.

The letter, "Legalizing drugs is not the answer," stated that "no
country anywhere that allowed the widespread and unchecked use of
drugs has prospered," That's just not true. The United States, Great
Britain, Japan, China, Brazil and so on are prosperous even though the
drugs of alcohol and nicotine are legal within their borders.

The ways that children are convinced that nicotine and alcohol are
unhealthy are through education, control and parental example. The
debate should be, "Will marijuana do the same?" It is illogical to
compare the decriminalization of thieves and embezzlers.

The letter, "All money a waste without education," gives an example of
a better use of our tax dollars. The debate is, "If the money we save
by not prosecuting and incarcerating people for victimless crimes is
used to educate and treat prisoners, could our society prosper?"

Amy Modica Myers

Mill Creek
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake