Pubdate: Wed, 21 May 2003
Source: Quesnel Cariboo Observer (CN BC)
Copyright: 2003 Quesnel Cariboo Observer
Contact:  http://www.quesnelobserver.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1260
Author: Christopher Largen
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n730/a10.html?1463

WE ARE THE MANY CASUALTIES OF THIS ONGOING WAR ON POT

Editor:

I am writing in response to Paul Wilcocks' insightful column entry Don't 
Listen to the Drug Czar."

Despite the overzealous reaction of our Drug Czar, Canada's recent push for 
sensible decriminalization policies gives hope to many U.S. citizens, like 
myself, who are fighting a war we never declared.

Our casualty list is a poignant reflection of our national diversity. We 
are sick and dying patients denied access to medical cannabis. We are 
children wounded in the crossfire between black market profiteers and law 
enforcement officials. We are innocent citizens killed by police in our own 
homes during faulty drug raids. We are police officers tortured and 
murdered over black-market profits We are taxpayers who spend $40 billion 
annually to fight a war that can never be won. We are people who die 
addicted or imprisoned because most of our government resources are spent 
on law enforcement versus treatment.

After thirty years of perpetually escalating sentences and draconian 
policies, we've lost more of our citizens here at home than we ever did in 
Iraq.

Despite this devastating human carnage, illegal drugs are still readily 
available on any given street corner in America. This is the terrible 
result of attempting to treat a public health problem as a criminal justice 
issue.

I hope Canadian officials will protect their national autonomy and support 
drug policy reform. The retroactive eye of history may regard them as 
progressive innovators who took a courageous stand despite international 
pressure.

Christopher Largen Denton, Texas
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom