The reality of the `mind-altering' editorial is different with y'all
up there than with us down here. Down here, the notion of stopping
drug use ends up with cities becoming combat zones with military-style
policing. Please, don't go there.

Prohibition is worse than a dead-end street. It creates a black
market and the thugs take over. Then the citizenry - hopefully
adequately represented by its local government - has to hire thugs to
handle those thugs. Things get nastier. It will escalate. And
protection will cost more and more.

Allan Erickson
Eugene, Ore.