From: [ebran d t] at [jarthur.cs.hmc.edu] (Eli Brandt)
Newsgroups: alt.drugs,talk.politics.drugs
Subject: `Dear Abby': "Legalized Drugs an Idea to Consider"
Date: 4 May 1994 01:47:56 GMT

That headline caught my eye, given her track record.
Here's the text of the letter and her response:

Dear Abby: I read the letter you published from "Inmate 711895" and
had to respond.
   "Inmate" stated that he smoked marijuana for 20 years, and during
that time, he also used cocaine.  If his consumption of those
substances was so harmful, how was it that he was married, had a
good job, a home in the suburbs and a clean record?
   In other words, if used in moderation, drugs do not prevent a
person from leading an active, productive life.
   His letter was much more of an indictment against drug
prohibition.  His letter could have been written 65 years ago by
someone convicted of selling beer or whiskey.  It took a commission
headed by a fellow named Wickersham to bring an end to the folly of
alcohol prohibition.
   Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders has called for a similar
commission to study whether the benefit of some form of drug
legalization might outweight the tremendous cost of prohibition.
   Abby, if cocaine were a drug sold by licensed dealers, Inmate
711895 would still be home supporting his family.
	- Robert E. Pottratz
		Minnesota attorney

Dear Mr. Pottratz: Just as bootlegger were forced out of business in
1933 when Prohibition was repealed, making the sale of liquor legal
(thus eliminating racketeering), the legalization of drugs would put
drug dealers out of business.
   It would also guarantee government-approved quality, and the tax
on drugs would provide an ongoing source of revenue for
drug-education programs.
   An added plus: There would be far less crowding in our prisons
due to drug-related crimes.
   It's something to consider.


I'll have to read the column to see if she sticks to her guns when
she gets the inevitable "Abby, what have you been smoking?" response.
And if you're on the net, Mr. Pottratz, nice work.  Wonder how many
middle-American minds that column blew?

   Eli   [ebran d t] at [hmc.edu]
         finger for PGP key.
The above text is worth 
precisely its weight in gold.