Pubdate: Fri, 27 Aug 1999
Date: 08/27/1999
Source: Wall Street Journal (NY)
Author: Dale Gieringer

* It is neither demand nor supply, but our bankrupt policy of
prohibition that is the historical, eradicable root of today's cocaine
problem. At the turn of the century, when cocaine was freely sold over
the counter, there was scarcely a trace of today's cocaine violence,
corruption and scandal.

In my grandparents' time, mild coca beverages were enjoyed and
endorsed by the likes of Thomas Edison, President McKinley and the
pope. Restore the free market for coca, at least for low-potency
products, and the cocaine problem will be resolved more surely,
economically and peaceably than by any prohibitionist campaign against
either consumers or dealers.

Dale Gieringer
Berkeley, Calif.