Pubdate: Tue, 07 Jan 2003 Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC) Copyright: 2003 The Vancouver Sun Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n025/a02.html Author: Alan Randell Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/racial.htm (Racial Issues) DRUG LAWS PERSECUTE AN INNOCENT MINORITY Having lost a son to the effects of adulterated street heroin, I'm afraid my feelings towards drug prohibition are more intense than yours (Momentum growing for pot law reform, Jan. 6). You don't "reform" a ridiculous law like this, you abolish it. Drug prohibition began at the beginning of the 20th century as a means of persecuting blacks (marijuana), Mexicans (marijuana) and Chinese (opium), but today the police are happy to make use of this evil law to harass and control all those whose lifestyles they do not approve of. Of course countless lawyers, advisors and consultants have ridden the gravy train of prohibition to successful and lucrative careers. Today as always, the purpose of prohibiting some harmful recreational drugs and not other harmful recreational drugs is to distract and entertain the majority by persecuting an innocent minority. Drug prohibition is a national disgrace. ALAN RANDELL, Victoria - --- MAP posted-by: Jackl