Pubdate: Fri, 10 May 2013
Source: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (NY)
Copyright: 2013 Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Contact:  http://www.democratandchronicle.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/614
Author: R. Jerome Warren

LEGALIZE AND REGULATE RECREATIONAL DRUGS

I was intrigued by a recent article about the Mexican drug cartels
moving into the United States, but this is no surprise, because the
country has decided to allow the illegal drug trade to continue.
Millions of people are employed and billions of dollars spent on law
enforcement, legal work and imprisonment only because we prefer
prohibition rather than legalization of many drugs.

What is overlooked is the absolute power of the free enterprise
system. Any product for which there is an effective demand will be
supplied. You cannot stop the flow of drugs that Americans demand.

The only answer is to do nationwide what was done with alcohol.
Legalize marijuana and hashish and sell them and tax them under the
alcohol model instores with alcohol, and sell the taxed harder drugs
by prescription to people under treatment. This will save billions of
dollars. It will increase tax revenues, and as for crime, it will cut
them off at the knees - as did the states' takeover of lotteries and
horse race betting.

R. JEROME WARREN

PERINTON
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