Pubdate: Mon, 16 Sep 2002 Source: Athens News, The (OH) Copyright: 2002, Athens News Contact: http://www.athensnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1603 Author: Kirk Muse DRUG PROBLEMS RESULT FROM THEIR PROHIBITION RATHER THAN USE It seems to me that in a free country, adult citizens should be able to smoke, snort, swallow or inject any substance they want. Almost all of the problems associated with drugs are because the drugs are illegal. When pure Bayer heroin was legally sold in local pharmacies, the term "drug-related crime" didn't exist. Neither did drug lords or drug cartels. And deaths from recreational drugs were very rare because the drugs were of known quality, known potency and known purity. Drugs are not the problem: drug prohibition is the problem. Kirk Muse Mesa, Arizona - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart