Pubdate: Mon, 23 Jun 2003
Source: Prince George Citizen (CN BC)
Copyright: 2003 Prince George Citizen
Contact:  http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/350
Author:  Alan Randell

BANNING DRUGS IS CAUSING MORE HARM THAN GOOD

Dear sir: Re: Cracking up (editorial, June 14)

God save us all from the relentless ignorance of the media. Let's get a few 
things straight about drugs. First, no government has the right to punish 
anyone for ingesting anything, however harmful.

Second none of the reasons given by government spokespeople to justify 
banning some drugs hold water.

It can't be to protect users because banning a drug always leads to more 
deaths amongst users, not fewer. My wife and I became well acquainted with 
that aspect of government policy when we lost our 19-year-old son to street 
heroin in 1993. Besides, two of our more harmful drugs, alcohol and 
tobacco, are legal.

It can't be to reduce the crime associated with drugs because banning a 
drug always gives rise to more crime than when the drug is legally available.

So what is the reason governments ban some drugs? What else but to distract 
the voters' attention away from more important issues by conducting a 
Hitler-like pogrom, first to ostracize and then to destroy, the innocent 
few who ingest or sell certain drugs? And don't forget the additional 
benefit of allowing our politicians and cops, along with their media 
sycophants, the pleasure of strutting and goose-stepping before us as they 
promise to ride out like St. George and slay the fearsome and deadly dragon 
of drugs while sticking the taxpayer with the cost?

You should be ashamed of yourself for helping to grease the slope that is 
propelling us all towards the establishment of a police state.

- -- Alan Randell

Victoria
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart