Pubdate: Sat, 29 Jan 2000 Source: Arizona Republic (AZ) Copyright: 2000 The Arizona Republic Contact: 200 E. Van Buren St., Phoenix, AZ 85004 Website: http://www.azcentral.com/news/ Forum: http://www.azcentral.com/pni-bin/WebX?azc Author: Harry Beasley Note: "Last week's (Jan. 22) questions about the war on drugs brought a record 161 letters." Related: Series Index at http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n103/a01.html LEGALIZATION WON'T END WAR I have heard so many people argue about ending the drug war by legalizing the drugs, and all I can say to that is this: The war will not end. The smuggling will not end. Does the term "moonshine" ring a bell in anyone's ear? The drug producers are not going to want to pay the taxes; that cuts into their profit. The distributors are not going to want to pay the taxes; that cuts into their profit. The user is not going to want to pay the taxes; that cuts into their wages. Therefore the illegal trade in the drugs will continue. But prices will be driven way down, and the cost of treatment programs will go way up. Harry Beasley, Desert Hills - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D