Pubdate: Wed, 10 May 2000 Source: Times-News, The (ID) Copyright: 2000 Magic Valley Newspapers Contact: P.O. Box 548, Twin Falls, ID 83303 Fax: (208) 734-553 Feedback: http://www.magicvalley.com/submit.html Website: http://www.magicvalley.com/ Author: James E. Holden LEGALIZE DRUGS Luther Burbank said, "It is well for people who think to change their minds occasionally in order to keep them clean. For those who do not think, it is best at least to rearrange their prejudices once in a while." The following is my condensation of a comprehensive interview on drugs between William F. Buckley Jr., founder of the National Review, and Michael S. Gazzaniga, professor of neuroscience at Dartmouth Medical School: 1. 100 million Americans have experimented with illegal drugs. 2.The vast majority of the criminal network will crumble with legalization. 3.The legalization of drugs will result in a significant decrease in crime. 4.Addiction rates are based on the chemistry of the person taking them, are relatively low and stable, and are little affected by governmental prohibitions. Further, approximately 400,000 Americans are in prison and 2 million on probation for victimless drug offenses. Every year, $50 billion is wasted and another $150 billion is lost in taxes due to our irrational and dysfunctional drug laws. The following prominent Republicans favor legalization or decriminalization of drug use: William F. Buckley Jr.; George Schultz, former secretary of state and advisor to G.W. Bush; Milton Freedman, economist; and Gary Johnson, governor of New Mexico. Why don't we try to become a little more rational and humane in our drug laws? In other words, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." JAMES E. HOLDEN Twin Falls - --- MAP posted-by: Derek Rea