Oct. 10, 2007 12:00 AM
Regarding "Cartels outrun, outgun the law at Ariz. border" (Republic, Oct. 3):
For decades, we have been naive in our belief that state and federal
drug agents would win a war with prohibitive legislation and threats.
We have successfully filled our prisons while supporting the lucrative
sale of drugs.
Whether an unconscious effort, or a hypocritical self-righteousness
about evil, we are making a lot of people in the United States, Mexico
and Columbia wealthy. We are relinquishing the management of drugs to
the criminal segment of our society.
We have shown that we can reasonably control the consumption of
alcohol and tobacco. Legalize marijuana and eliminate the corrupting
profit.
Retail it and tax it at a price that will discourage smugglers and
back street vendors.
Until we do, we are smug in our self-deception, while in fact
condoning the illegal use of drugs. - Alvin L. Arnold,Wickenburg
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/1010wedlets105.html
