Pubdate: Sat, 11 Jan 2003
Source: East Valley Tribune (AZ)
Copyright: 2003 East Valley Tribune.
Contact:  http://www.eastvalleytribune.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2708
Author:    Kirk Muse

PROHIBITION WON'T WORK THIS TIME

I'm writing about Wm. Jules Johnson's thoughtful letter: "Pass Amendment To 
Ban Tobacco Sales" (Jan. 5). Certainly, if drugs were made illegal based 
upon their danger and the harm they cause, tobacco should be the first 
product prohibited and alcohol the second.

We tried prohibiting alcohol and it didn't work.  Alcohol prohibition 
caused much more harm than it prevented.  It corrupted all levels of 
government from the cops on the beat on up.

People didn't stop buying and drinking alcohol, they just stopped buying it 
from regulated sources.  The sale and distribution was controlled by 
criminal gangs.  The alcohol was of unknown quality, purity and potency 
that resulted in needless deaths and blindings.

Essentially the same thing is happening today with the prohibition of 
recreational drugs.  It's not working either-- except to provide full 
employment for those doing the prohibiting.

Kirk Muse

Mesa
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom