DEALING WITH DRUGS

Good for the American-Statesman for printing the Dec. 27 article about
Portugal's successful experiment in decriminalizing drugs ("U.S.,
others look to Portugal for guide to beating drugs").

Texas should decriminalize possession of personal amounts of marijuana
- -- not to encourage marijuana use, but because fighting drugs with the
criminal law causes more harm than good. Remember alcohol prohibition?
Having failed in that war on alcohol, we've now foolishly used the
same weapons on other drugs with the same results. More drugs, not
less, and far more crime.

We should license and tax the production and sale of personal
marijuana, just like we do with alcohol. It's the smart way to reduce
drug abuse and the horrific consequences of feeding the black market
we have now.

John Delaney

Retired district judge

Bryan