Pubdate: Wed, 9 Jan 2002 Source: The Monitor (TX) Copyright: 2002 The Monitor Contact: http://www.themonitor.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1250 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n010/a06.html?2942 Author: Diana Valencia Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) REGULATE, BUT DON'T PROHIBIT To the editor: A response to Hugh Kelley ("Legalization won't work," Jan. 3). I am a mother of two young children. I have to start looking out for them. I honestly believe "regulation is the key." Currently, illegal drugs are the easiest to attain for kids these days. Easier than alcohol and tobacco. Creating regulation rather than the black market would make drugs harder for our children to attain and would take profit and violence away from the streets. Just because a drug would become regulated doesn't mean that everyone would want to try it. I think there are people who plan to use them, legal or not, and others who have no interest in using them at all. Your assumptions are specious and ought to be re-examined. Diana Valencia, Kelseyville, Calif. - --- MAP posted-by: Jackl