Pubdate: Fri, 09 Mar 2012 Source: Daily News, The (Newburyport, MA) Copyright: 2012 Eagle Tribune Publishing Company Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/k3oQxseR Website: http://www.newburyportnews.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/693 Author: Steven S. Epstein Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n173/a02.html?1275 STATES SHOULD CONTROL SALE OF DRUGS To the editor: I agree with Mr. Cook ("Decriminalizing drugs the only answer, March 6") that it is "time to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of all drugs and to even legalize them completely." However, the individual states, not the FDA, should determine their potency and control how they are distributed and sold in each state. As for taxes, as with alcoholic beverages and tobacco, both the state and federal authorities may claim a cut, but the combined cut must be set at a level lower than "taxing the heck out of them" if the evils of the black market are to disappear. Steven S. Epstein Georgetown - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.