-Legalization of Drugs Backed in U.S.-

Washington(AP)-Surgeon General Jocelyn Elders said Tuesday that the legalization of illicit drugs "would markedly reduce our crime rate." Dr. Elders said other countries had decriminalized drug use and had reduced their crime rates without increasing the use of narcotics. She also said she had not discussed the issue with President Clinton and that she was not speaking for the Clinton administration.