Pubdate: Thu, 27 Dec 2001
Source: Daily Independent, The (KY)
Copyright: 2001 The Daily Independent, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.dailyindependent.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1573
Author: Kirk Muse
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n2123/a12.html

DRUG PROHIBITION IS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE

Letter writer Rick Root was right on the mark in his Dec. 24 letter, 
"Nation has drug prohibition problem."

At the beginning of the last century, Bayer heroin was sold in local 
pharmacies for about the same price as Bayer aspirin. Also, Coca-Cola 
contained cocaine instead of caffeine and sold for 5 cents a bottle. Drug 
users didn't have to rob, steal or commit acts of prostitution to obtain 
their drugs. Drug lords and drug dealers, as we know them today, didn't exist.

Drug prohibition is just as counterproductive as alcohol prohibition. 
Today, drug buyers are purchasing drugs of unknown quality, unknown potency 
and unknown purity.

This is not unlike the "bathtub gin" our grandfathers purchased that 
resulted in needless blindings and deaths.

Kirk Muse

Vancouver, Wash.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens