Pubdate: Tue, 30 Apr 2002
Source: Parksville Qualicum Beach News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2002 Parksville Qualicum Beach News
Contact:  http://www.pqbnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1361
Author: Alan Randell
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n814/a08.html

SHADES OF HITLER WITH DRUG POLICY

Re: Pot cookies, pot butter: lingo of compassionate Cannabis Buyers Club 
(News Weekender, April 26)

Let's step back a bit. Why do governments prohibit certain drugs? Is it to 
protect users from harm?

No, that can't be the reason because users suffer more (adulterated drugs 
and jail time) when a drug is banned as compared to when it is legally 
available.

My wife and I became well acquainted with this aspect of government policy 
when we lost our 19-year-old son to street heroin in 1993.

Besides, two of our more dangerous drugs, alcohol and tobacco, are legal. 
Is it to reduce the crime associated with illegal drugs?

No, that can't be the reason because banning a drug always gives rise to 
more crime (drug cartels, petty crimes by users as prohibition makes drug 
prices much higher, violent disputes between dealers) than when the drug is 
legally available.

Is it to distract attention away from more important issues by conducting a 
brutal, Hitler-like pogrom to ruin the lives of the innocent few who ingest 
or sell certain drugs - with the additional "benefit" of allowing our 
politicians and cops the pleasure of strutting and preening before us as 
they promise to ride out like St. George and slay the fearsome and deadly 
dragon of drugs while sticking the taxpayer with the cost of bigger budgets 
and free drugs for our police officers? Bingo.

Hitler's armies may have lost the war but, sadly, his ideas seem to have 
found ready acceptance all across the "civilized" world.

Alan Randell,
Victoria
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MAP posted-by: Alex