Pubdate: Thu, 12 Mar 1998
Date: 12/03/1998
Source: Ft. Worth Star-Telegram (TX)
Author: Bill Lockhart

Your Tuesday editorial "The Main Thing" inaccurately characterized
those who oppose our present system of drug prohibition as not taking
the drug abuse problem seriously. A regulated reversal of many of the
prohibition laws would most likely have the effect of decreasing the
adverse effects of drug abuse.

We learned this through the Volstead Act, which prohibited alcohol in
the United States. It made a great opportunity for organized crime,
and much adverse health effects from illegal alcohol. It did not stop
alcohol abuse.

Our present system of drug prohibition is tantamount to subsidizing
the illicit drug purveyors by $400 billion a year -- about the amount
of our defense budget.

Bill Lockhart
Alpine