Pubdate: Fri, 4 Jul 2008
Source: Columbian, The (WA)
Copyright: 2008 The Columbian Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.columbian.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/92
Author: Kirk Muse

REGULATION WILL ADD CONTROL

In response to Trudy Gonzalez-Polanco's June 25 letter, "Addictions
are multiplying," addiction is usually not a problem unless the
substance people are addicted to is illegal. Lots of people are
addicted to products containing caffeine, myself included. I could
quit if I wanted to, but I don't want to.

Addiction to coffee containing caffeine is affordable to most people.
Almost nobody has to rob, steal or commit acts of prostitution to
purchase coffee.

Criminalize coffee and the situation would soon change. Then coffee
would be untaxed, unregulated and controlled by criminals and very
expensive -- just like marijuana is today. How would coffee consumers
feel if their beverage of choice was criminalized by our nanny-state
government? Probably the same way marijuana consumers feel today.

Kirk Muse

Mesa, Ariz.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake