Pubdate: Wed, 11 Jun 2003
Source: Mississauga News (CN ON)
Copyright: The Mississauga News 2003
Contact:  http://www.mississauganews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/268
Author: Alan Randell

LOVING DRUGS

Dear Editor:

Re: Pot growers setting traps, June 2 edition.

Enough of this simple-minded prohibitionist propaganda deploring problems 
caused by drug prohibition please. Your readers deserve better.

Let's get a few things straight about drugs.

1. No government has the right to punish anyone for ingesting anything, 
however harmful.

2. The consequences of prohibition are far more harmful than anything 
preceding it: More user deaths because of adulterated drugs, much more 
crime, explosions and fires in illegal drug labs, electricity thefts, 
accelerated spread of infectious diseases, skyrocketing law enforcement 
costs, police corruption, disrespect for the law, easier access for 
children (because drugs are often sold at school by classmates), more 
difficult for parents and children to communicate honestly about drugs, 
etc., etc.

3. Even if governments did have the right to ban harmful drugs, banning 
marijuana, heroin, etc., still makes no sense whatsoever because two of our 
more harmful recreational drugs, alcohol and tobacco are not banned and 
marijuana is banned even though it is less harmful than either.

So if drugs aren't banned because they're harmful, why do we ban them? 
That's easy. It is to entertain the majority by ruining the lives of the 
minority.

Alan Randell

Victoria, B.C.
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