Pubdate: Fri, 3 Dec 2004 Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (MO) Copyright: 2004 St. Louis Post-Dispatch Contact: http://www.stltoday.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/418 Author: Gerrit L. DenHartog Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04.n1709.a07.html LAX REGULATION In a Dec. 1 letter, Robert Sharpe, a policy analyst with Common Sense for Drug Policy, writes: "Taxing and regulating marijuana, the most popular illicit drug, is a cost-effective alternative to a never-ending drug war." Apparently Sharpe and his pro-legalization colleagues never have looked carefully at the nation's flawed alcohol-control policies. If they did, they would find that taxation and regulation are in the grip of those who produce intoxicating beverages. Any Missouri state legislator can tell you what the chances are that the Legislature will vote against anything opposed by Big Beer. Is there any other way to explain why the state excise tax on beer is scarcely a half-penny per can and that the per-gallon rates have not changed since 1971 - when Gov.-elect Matt Blunt was still in diapers - despite evidence that alcohol misuse, abuse and addiction cost the state about $3.7 billion each year? Gerrit L. DenHartog Jefferson City - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin