Pubdate: Fri, 25 Jul 2003 Source: Calgary Sun, The (CN AB) Copyright: 2003 The Calgary Sun Contact: http://www.fyicalgary.com/calsun.shtml Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/67 Author: Michael Cust Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n1038/a04.html Note: Parenthetical remark by the Sun editor, headline by newshawk RISKY BUSINESS RE: "POLICE slam grass price," (July 10.) In reply to a letter from a gentleman in Pittsburgh who said the black market creates increased profits for criminals, the Sun replied "prison hinders those profits." Clearly, it hasn't. Last time I checked, the Hell's Angels weren't having a going-out-of-business sale. In fact, the higher the level of enforcement, the greater the profits for organized crime and the greater violence surrounding the illegal trade in drugs. This occurs because the trade becomes riskier. In risky business, people can charge higher prices because of the risk premium. The more you enforce the law, the more criminals can afford to charge. Michael Cust (So what's the solution?) - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk