COSTLY PROHIBITION POLICIES

Thanks for publishing Laura Czekaj's story about Jack Cole, the former
undercover narcotics officer: "Legalize it, ex-cop tells Hill pot rally"
(June 6).

I'd like to add that many judges and prison wardens have said that 70 to 90%
of all property crime and violent crime is "drug-related." Actually, almost
100% of all so-called "drug-related crime" is caused by drug prohibition
policies -- not drugs.

When Coca-Cola contained cocaine instead of caffeine and sold for 5cents a
bottle, the term "drug-related crime" didn't exist. Neither did drug lords,
drug cartels or even drug dealers as we know them today.

Many currently employed in law enforcement are opposed to Cole's idea of
re-legalizing all types of recreational drugs. That's because if drugs were
re-legalized, we would need far fewer law enforcement personnel, far fewer
prison guards and no prison builders. Thus, many now employed in law
enforcement and the prison industry would be looking for a job or washing
cars for a living.

Kirk Muse

Mesa, Ariz.

(We don't know about the U.S., but we think you overestimate the amount of
resources Canada uses to incarcerate drug dealers)