Pubdate: Sat, 07 Oct 2006 Source: Journal Standard, The (Freeport, IL) Copyright: 2006 The Journal Standard Contact: http://www.journalstandard.com/forms/letters/ Website: http://www.journalstandard.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3182 Author: Kirk Muse Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06.n1348.a08.html PROHIBITION LESSONS HAVE GONE UNLEARNED I'm writing about Diana Roemer's story: "Federal grant helps counties fight meth, other drugs" (10-04-06). I have a simple solution that would eliminate 99 percent of the illegal methamphetamine labs. The solution is Desoxyn, the pharmaceutical form of methamphetamine legally available in local pharmacies for less than $2 per dose with a doctor's prescription. I say start selling it at local pharmacies without a prescription - with no questions asked - to any adult just like we do with tobacco products. Except there should be no advertising or promotion of the product. Would we still have people addicted to methamphetamine? Yes. Would meth addicts need to rob or commit acts of prostitution to obtain money to buy their methamphetamine? No. When they re-legalized alcohol in 1933, it was not because they decided that alcohol was not so harmful, but because of the crime and corruption that Prohibition caused. When they re-legalized alcohol in 1933, the illegal bathtub gin producers went out of business overnight. When they re-legalized alcohol in 1933, our overall crime rate, including murder, declined substantially. Kirk Muse Mesa, Ariz. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin