Pubdate: Mon, 26 Nov 2001
Source: Clearwater Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2001 Clearwater Times
Contact:  http://www.clearwatertimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1448
Author: Robert Taylor

DRUG DEALER SHOULD NOT BE COMPARED TO THE INNOCENT

Editor, The Times:

Re: Stop the War on Drugs, Nov. 12, 2001

I agree with the letter to the editor from Alan Randell that the war on 
drugs is a failure. That begs the question of if it should be fought or 
not, and how.

It may be a main source of funds for terrorists, but he will have to define 
terrorist. If it is unconstitutional I am sure it will be fought in the 
courts. I doubt it is designed by the state "to ruin the lives of the 
innocent few who happen to enjoy certain drugs."

I think the war on drugs is misdirected. Distinctions should be drawn 
between users and pushers, the type of drug and the age of the people involved.

An adult committing crime to feed a crack habit needs serious medical help, 
not incarceration. A youth smoking pot behind the shed needs discipline and 
correction.

I have heard anecdotal stories only, but is it fair that students be 
suspended from school for having pot while the adults supplier faces no 
consequences?

I draw distinctions between dealers as well. Selling pot to adults, for me, 
is not a problem. I would prefer to see it legalized and taxed rather than 
spending tax money searching for plantations and charging the growers. It 
is like prohibition of alcohol in the States. A criminal element gets 
involved, the product is unregulated and potentially dangerous, money is 
spent by the state trying to stop it when it could be regulating and taxing it.

Selling hard drugs is another case entirely. These drugs will ruin lives. 
Users will commit desperate acts to feed their habits. They overdose and 
die. People who deal hard drugs should not be tolerated. They are taking 
advantage of people's weaknesses and vulnerabilities for their own profit. 
They drain off everything the addict has worked for and supply them with 
substances that will kill them.

The pushers know this and they don't care. They don't care about the people 
they sell drugs to, they don't care about me, you or any of our children. 
So, I wonder if Mr. Randell's analogies are not misdirected. Who is ruining 
lives? Who are the innocent few?

I would not continue his analogy to suggest that anyone should be hung, 
lynched or gassed, as it would be an affront to the memories of the 
"witches ... blacks ... (and) Jews" to group them with people dealing hard 
drugs. A more accurate analogy might be that a crack dealer gets his victim 
to come to him, remove his own gold teeth and pay to go to the oven. The 
Nazis had to round the innocent up, murder them and remove their gold 
fillings last.

Robert Taylor

Clearwater, B.C.
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MAP posted-by: Beth