Pubdate: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 Source: Billings Gazette, The (MT) Copyright: 2012 The Billings Gazette Contact: http://billingsgazette.com/app/contact/?contact=letter Website: http://www.billingsgazette.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/515 Author: David W. Ries LEGALIZE DRUGS AND WATCH PROBLEMS GO AWAY Want to solve our economic woes? Legalize drugs and tax them. Want to stop killings and drive-by shootings? Legalize drugs and tax them. Want to see a reduction in gangs? Legalize drugs and tax them. Want to unplug our court system? Legalize drugs and tax them. Want to reduce our prison budgets? Legalize drugs and tax them. Want to prevent Mexico from civil war? Legalize drugs and tax them. Want to stop wasting money on a defunct DEA? Legalize drugs and tax them. The other alternative is to take out all the users and shoot them, as China did. I don't think we have the guts for that. In many civilized societies, drugs are legal, and they have few problems with it. As an old-timer who lived during Prohibition, I can only say if you don't control it, it will consume you in toto. Wouldn't this be a good question for all politicians during the upcoming election? David W. Ries Forsyth - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.