Jose Rodriguez's solution to the pot problem fails to address several issues. ("High time to legalize it," Feb. 20.) The solution to drug abuse will not come as a result of legalizing pot or any other drug. The culture we are in must first be changed to reject drug abuse. We have made major inroads into stemming tobacco use. Those programs will be for naught if we attempt to legalize pot.

Coddling addicts and implementing harm reduction programs will only perpetuate the problem. If we want to get serious about stopping drug abuse, we must consider solutions offered by other countries. Executing pushers and caning users may seem draconian but it has virtually eliminated drug abuse in Singapore and the associated costs caused by addicts preying on the public. Their policing costs are a fraction of ours and they spend much more on treatment programs than we do and with better results.

Patrick Carroll

(We don't even execute murderers!)

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