Pubdate: Thu, 28 Aug 2008
Source: Muskogee Daily Phoenix (OK)
Copyright: 2008 Muskogee Daily Phoenix
Contact:  http://www.muskogeephoenix.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3319
Author: Kirk Muse
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n793/a08.html

LEGALIZATION OF DRUGS WOULD HELP COUNTRY

I'm writing about J. D. Lape's Aug. 17 thoughtful letter: "Let's take 
the profits out of dealing drugs."

Imagine if we had no "drug-related crime." Imagine if our overall 
crime rate was a small fraction of our current crime rate. We once 
had such a situation here in the United States.

Prior to the passage of the Harrison Narcotics Act of 1914, the term 
"drug-related crime" didn't exist. And drug lords, drug cartels or 
even drug dealers as we know them today didn't exist either.

Back then, all types of recreational drugs were legally sold to 
anybody with no questions asked, for pennies per dose in grocery 
stores and pharmacies.

Did we have a lot more drug addicts then compared to now? No. We had 
about the same percentage of our population addicted to drugs, 
according to U. S. federal judge John L. Kane of Colorado.

For the sake of our children, can we re-legalize our now illegal 
drugs and sell them in licensed business establishments? This would 
put the drug dealers and drug lords out of business overnight.

Kirk Muse

Mesa, Ariz.
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