Pubdate: Sat, 14 Jul 2001 Source: Columbian, The (WA) Copyright: 2001 The Columbian Publishing Co. Contact: http://www.columbian.com/ Address: 701 W 8th St, Vancouver, WA 98666 Forum: http://www.webforums.com/forums/trace/host/msa70.html Author: Kirk Muse LEGALIZING REDUCES DRUG USE I appreciated the July 9 "Dear Ann Landers" column publishing Robert Sharpe's outstanding letter in response to the letter from Donnie Marshall, the outgoing Drug Enforcement Administration chief. Our policy of drug prohibition has proven to be just as counterproductive as alcohol prohibition. Illegal drug-buyers are buying drugs of unknown quality, unknown potency and unknown purity. Ecstasy and other synthetic drugs are not unlike the bathtub gin our grandfathers bought that resulted in needless deaths and blindings. KIRK MUSE Vancouver, WA - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager