Pubdate: Thu, 12 Jul 2007 Source: Dallas Morning News (TX) Copyright: 2007 The Dallas Morning News Contact: http://www.dallasnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/117 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n812/a01.html?66641 Author: Suzanne Wills LEGALIZE DRUGS AND PUT GANGS OUT OF BUSINESS Al Capone didn't build his criminal empire because people drank alcohol. His gang of thugs and murderers made money because alcohol was an illegal drug in the 1920s. The modern, violent, international drug gangs don't make fortunes because people snort cocaine. They make fortunes because cocaine and a few other drugs are illegal. The drug gangs would be out of business overnight if they had to compete with legitimate businesses selling pharmaceutically pure, regulated, taxed products. Suzanne Wills, Drug Policy Forum of Texas, Dallas - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom