Pubdate: Sun, 20 Apr 2003 Source: Sunday Times (Australia) Copyright: 2003 Times Newspapers Ltd Contact: http://www.sundaytimes.news.com.au/letters/letters.html Website: http://www.sundaytimes.news.com.au/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/438 Author: Brian Tennant Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) NOT THE SOFT OPTION I respond to Liam Bartlett's column "Dopy debate helps nobody" (TST, April 13), particularly the last two paragraphs: "The Government argues it is on the right track because under the new laws cannabis will remain illegal. But when it comes to explaining how the changes will make life better, they are not (according to Liam) convincing..." Firstly, the Opposition has an ethical problem. During the WA Community Drug Summit, it said it would support the summit's process and decisions. The police supported the summit's thinking on cannabis. The messages to young people from the proposed changes will be: * They can be honest in a classroom or family discussion without being seen as a criminal * If they are experimenting socially a lifelong criminal conviction is an over-reaction * If they use too many drugs because of emotional problems, society wants to alleviate those, not add to them The Opposition must stop claiming the new law is "soft on drugs" and look at who is being soft on the criminal black market and soft on police corruption. BRIAN TENNANT, Subiaco - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager