Drug Legalization Would Mean More Tax Revenue, Less Crime

Prohibition is the case study that should be used as an example of the folly and wasted energy caused by illegal drugs in high demand. Alcohol is a drug.

The 80% of people in (Sheriff Brad) Gates’ poll (“Judges ‘Out of Step’ on Drugs,” Sept. 11) who responded against legal drugs are not going to use them--legal or not.

The other 20% might not, either; they just can’t see the positive side of taxable free trade.

A black market causes a loss of tax revenue to the state and an undue burden to law officers, court systems and jails.

In these times of stressing the short-term view, we really need to look at the long term.

The long-term positives are less crime, more tax income, less corruption and more awareness of the seriousness of addiction.

The short-term negatives are the perception that use will increase. The supply is already on the streets, so why should demand increase when it comes out of the closet and is legal?

The average person has knowledge of these drugs already. We do not need to police our own right to decide.

Let’s let our dollars stay in the U.S.A. Let’s put the smugglers out of business. Let’s let the police work on more serious crimes.

Any drug addict will tell you that the drugs are readily available, and that will not change no matter how much of our hard-earned tax money is thrown at the problem.

It is a shame that some farsighted and educated men are not given more respect on this issue.

PETER JAMES DAVIDSON

Irvine