Pubdate: Fri, 29 Jun 2001 Source: Province, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2001 The Province Contact: http://www.vancouverprovince.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476 Author: John Gordon IT'S NOT ADDICTIVE It has been demonstrated in countries like Holland and Switzerland, which have decriminalized cannabis and separated cannabis from heroin, that decriminalization reduces the consumption in both drugs. It reduces crime and allows those countries to redirect the funds that would otherwise have gone into prisons, courts, unnecessary police and other related costs to such useful things as education, health care, fighting homelessness and other pressing social issues. After Switzerland switched to a harm-reduction strategy on heroin, the crime rate dropped by 60 per cent. By one estimate, 70 per cent of Canada's crime is addiction-related in some way. It has been shown in strong marijuana prohibitionist countries that hard-drug use increases. Where there is the least availability of marijuana, in countries like Sweden, youth are even turning to solvents. Cannabis is less addictive than caffeine and not physically addictive at all. Ask people who know real addictions like cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines and alcohol -- they'll tell you marijuana provides solace and keeps them off the hard stuff. The only "gateway" occurs when prohibition does not distinguish between drugs and there is no safe place for people to acquire and enjoy their intelligent preference. The real harm is the legal and social fallout. John Gordon Vancouver - --- MAP posted-by: Beth