Pubdate: Mon, 10 Sep 2007
Source: Intelligencer Journal (Lancaster, PA)
Copyright: 2007 Lancaster Newspapers, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.lancasteronline.com/pages/paper/intell/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/211
Author: Robert E. Field

PROHIBITION DOES NOT WORK

To the Editor:

Bob Herbert's column  "Vegas and the exploitation of  women" correctly
describes the atrocities resulting from  illegal prostitution, but
fails to identify the core cause:  When  we legislate prohibition for
something that a large segment of the public  insists upon, we simply
turn the industry over to criminals at great  cost to society in
general and taxpayers in particular.

Consider how many conscientious citizens would almost overnight become
  law breakers were we to prohibit the sale of tobacco products as we
once did alcohol!

Until the State Lottery was introduced, the numbers racket
flourished.  We may not approve of people spending money on lottery
tickets, but at least the results are honest, the  bets are taxed for
the  benefit of the elderly, and we no longer generate and  enrich
criminals.

Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman understands that legal brothels would
protect women from pimps and other predators, customer abuse, require
periodic  health examinations and advice, discourage teenage sex
workers, provide  normal employment benefits, and provide a source of
revenue for the city rather  than for criminals.

Similarly marijuana, the most popular and a relatively benign  illegal
drug, should be sold through State Stores.  This would  break the back
of the illegal drug industry, prevent sales to young  people, and
provide a huge source of revenue to treat the  rare cases of addiction
as a health problem, not as a crime.

Prohibition doesn't work:  It didn't for alcohol, it won't for drugs,
and it never has for prostitution.

Robert E. Field

Editor's note:  Field is co-chair of  Common Sense for Drug  Policy
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake