Madam, - The evil empires mentioned by Jimmy Guerin (December 16th) exist because their emperors are meeting a market demand for products that are not available legally. There will always be a demand for these products regardless of whether the supply is legal or illegal.
All industries are kept alive by supply and demand. If you make any product illegal, it will automatically appear on the black market. To ignore this fact is utterly naïve.
I agree with Mr Guerin that education is needed concerning the dangers of drugs. However, I suggest regulating the entire market and allowing the tax revenues from the sale of drugs to be used for research, development and effective marketing campaigns against the use and abuse of addictive substances and to help the people and families affected by substance abuse.
Drugs are a release and are fun for some people and can be used sensibly. For others, they can be a disaster, wrecking individual's and families' lives and even causing death. This applies to alcohol and cigarettes, which are a readily available addictive products. - Yours, etc,
PETER J McCARTHY, Shelmalier Road, East Wall, Dublin 3.