Your letters are typically creative and sometimes fun, but the recent mail from Larry Frost of Bismarck was nothing but provocative in tone and content.

Frost has called me out: "Do you have the brains or the cajones enough to meet the challenge?"

Stand back. Direct from the home office of Cajones 'R' Us, it's time to rumble.

You may recall that, after the Super Bowl, I penned a few thoughts on the laughably ill-conceived commercials paid for by the President's Office of National Drug Control Policy. Those messages contained a shameless and cheap appeal to guilt by blaming America's recreational drug users for funding international terrorism. I took exception to that, and Frost has taken exception to me. His missive is a bit lengthy, but his concerns are on target.

"Please lay out your vision of an America with marijuana and cocaine and heroin legalized and 'controlled' by the government," Frost demands, "and tell us how this would be an improvement over what we have now."

No disrespect meant, sir, but the part about "potential terrorists" comes from President Bush, and he is far from wanting to legitimize any controlled substances. Although I am prepared to set about my assignment cheerfully, there is one small misgiving.

Why no talk about how things are now? I am sure the proponents of drug criminalization, such as yourself, are proud of the many new prisons, the crushed families, ruined lives and the unceasing insult of drug testing. Asking me to expound on drug legalization without discussing current conditions is akin to asking Patrick Henry to discuss freedom without bringing up King George III, the Redcoats or taxation without representation.

One might just as well ask the preacher to give the plan of salvation and not mention sin or Satan, but I believe Frost's intention is to focus our argument on effects of my proposal once enacted. Fair enough.

Frost's first query is a dandy: "How will legal access to these heretofore illicit drugs . . . improve the lives of the average American?" That one is easy: Not much. Most of us are way too smart to fool around with mind altering substances.

What about children? Frost puts it well: "If children and teen-agers can already get access to 'controlled and taxed' alcohol and tobacco, what will keep them from getting legalized addictive drugs?" Excuse me, but young people get illegal drugs now, and often free till they are hooked. Dope pushers are smart business people and know how to develop good customers, and the artificially high prices are a fine incentive. Kids will be safer when drugs are legal and controlled.

Frost is full of good questions. What about bootlegging? Anybody who lives in a dry county ought to know that "white lightning" from an illegal still is very dangerous stuff. Legalization makes alcohol safer for the consumer. The same model will work for the substances which are now unlawful.

After 20 years of failed "get-tough" polices, we should have learned something, but the war on drugs grinds away in the relentless assault upon ordinary folks.

The latest easy target is the sick. Decent people would leave cancer patients alone, but the feds are going after states where voters have allowed medical marijuana. Insane. Immoral.

Larry Frost asked for my vision of America with legal drugs. Here goes. I see a nation where the government listens to the people, who are free of unreasonable searches, dehumanizing drug tests, racial profiling, drive-by shootings, swarms of dope-dealing predators, the DEA and assorted pinhead bureaucrats.

What could be more splendid than a country devoted to free enterprise and individual liberty?

Pat Lynch

Pat Lynch has been a radio talk show host in Central Arkansas for 18
years.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette 2/26/2002