Pubdate: Sat, 07 Sep 2002 Source: Daily News, The (CN NS) Copyright: 2002 The Daily News Contact: http://www.canada.com/halifax/dailynews/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/179 Author: Anthony Gracey Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1656/a02.html LOST IN THE LEGALIZATION HOOPLA To the editor: It was encouraging to see such a progressive piece of writing come out of one of the highest political bodies in the land (Senate: Legalize Weed, The Daily News, Sept. 5). What is getting lost in all the hoopla surrounding the legalizing of pot, is that this legislation recognizes the harmful effects of drugs on society and treats them as a social and health issue, not a criminal one. These are the first politicians in a long time to actually realize if you want to curb drug usage, it is best to reduce demand among your citizens and not focus on the supply side. By reducing demand, you inherently destroy the supply - and the organized crime it usually funds - while at the same time ensuring Canadians can get healthy. People in Canada use drugs. At the same time, many of these same people (usually not pot smokers) do not want to. It is called addiction. It is a mental disorder, and no amount of jail time or fines will ever help these people. The only thing that will is progressive legislation based upon this report. I challenge people to look beyond the legalization of pot controversey that will stem from this report, and think about how to honestly deal with Canadian citizens who have a problem they can no longer control. Anthony Gracey, Halifax - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D