To the Editor:

Please note my thanks for your editorial on increasing penalties for methamphetamine and rest assured that I am in total agreement.

I recall that when I came to Lea County over 30 years ago, Lea County had a drug problem. There were two or three places in the county where one could buy heroin or cocaine and five or six places to buy marijuana.

Finally, about 25 years ago, a responsive conservative Legislature responded to public concern by increasing penalties, stopping early parole and setting mandatory penalties for second offenses.

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