DON'T LEGALIZE DRUGS

Bill McClellan has written a two or three columns urging legalization
of marijuana and, I assume, other drugs. He has pointed out many
problems in the so-called war on drugs. His simple solution is
legalization and, on the face of it, legalization has much to offer.

Obviously, locking up black kids and throwing away the key while we
try to get treatment programs for the white kids is one of its most
egregious problems. However, if we do legalize marijuana and other
drugs, we have to realize that we will make these products much more
available to our young people when they are most vulnerable to them.
We will be encouraging them to experiment with drugs, and consequently
addiction will go way up.

Legalization is not the answer. For the sake of all our young people,
let us not make drugs more accessible to young people at a time when
they are most vulnerable to the enticements of these drugs.

Steven R. Bettlach,
St. Louis