SMOKING BAN TOBACCO REGULATION, NOT PROHIBITION

To the editor:

I agree with the headline of Kenneth J. Virkus' letter on Nov. 17,
"Prohibition has never worked."

However, tobacco products are not prohibited. They are regulated,
controlled and taxed.

The government does not say that adult citizens may not buy or use
tobacco products, instead they say when and where tobacco may be
purchased and used.

That is regulation -- not prohibition.

Speaking of regulation, why should recreational and self-medicating
drugs remain completely unregulated, untaxed and controlled by criminals?

Only legal products of any kind can be regulated, controlled and
taxed by any government.

Speaking of taxes, it seems to me non-marijuana users and non-other
drug users would be very much in favor of taxing products that they don't use.

Taxing someone else's vice is very popular.

Kirk Muse, Mesa, AZ