Pubdate: Fri, 16 Aug 2002
Source: Bristol Evening Post (UK)
Copyright: 2002 Bristol Evening Post
Contact: 
http://www.nepmidlands.co.uk/thisis_general/redirects/bristolletts.html
Website: http://www.epost.co.uk
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2412
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1485/a04.html

DRUG PLAN SHOWS ROGER'S NO DOPE

Kingswood MP Roger Berry is to be commended for making the case for 
common-sense cannabis law reform.  Home Secretary David Blunkett's 
reclassification of cannabis is merely a step in the right direction. There 
is a big difference between condoning cannabis use and protecting children 
from drugs.  Decriminalisation acknowledges the social reality of cannabis 
use, and frees users from the stigma of life-shattering criminal 
records.  What's really needed is a regulated market with age 
controls.  Separating the hard and soft drug markets is critical.

As long as cannabis remains illegal and is distributed by organised 
criminals, consumers will continue to come into contact with sellers of 
hard drugs like crack cocaine.  Given that cannabis is arguably safer than 
legal alcohol - the plant has never been shown to cause death by overdose - 
it makes no sense to waste tax dollars on failed policies that finance 
organised crime and facilitate the use of hard drugs.  Drug policy reform 
may send the wrong message to children, but I like to think the children 
themselves are more important than the message.

Robert Sharpe,

MPA programme officer, Drug Policy Alliance, 925 15th Street, NW 
Washington, DC 20005 USA.

www.drugpolicy.org
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MAP posted-by: Alex