Pubdate: Wed, 31 Jan 2001 Source: Houston Chronicle (TX) Copyright: 2001 Houston Chronicle Contact: Viewpoints Editor, P.O. Box 4260 Houston, Texas 77210-4260 Fax: (713) 220-3575 Website: http://www.chron.com/ Forum: http://www.chron.com/content/hcitalk/index.html Author: Darron David Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n143/a03.html TRY REGULATING CIGARETTES Thom Marshall certainly has a rosy view of the government's ability to regulate its citizens (Jan. 26 column, "One governor against drug war"). Marshall quoted New Mexico Gov. Gary E. Johnson, who says if we legalize drugs, we will be able to control them, tax them, etc. Johnson says it should be changed to where it is illegal to use drugs if you are younger than 21. And even though it is illegal now to drink alcohol if you are under 21, go to any high school and ask the students how difficult it is to get alcohol. Ask middle school students how hard it is to buy cigarettes, even though they are supposed to be 18 to be able to smoke. While I don't disagree that some illegal drugs are less damaging than many legal substances, the idea that the government could regulate any of them is laughable. Darron Davis, Houston - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens