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
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens