Pubdate: Sun, 27 Jun 2004
Source: Quesnel Cariboo Observer (CN BC)
Copyright: 2004 Quesnel Cariboo Observer
Contact:  http://www.quesnelobserver.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1260
Author: Graham Gerry
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

DOPEY LAWS NEED LOOKING AT

Politicians' best intentions often fail to produce any substantial benefits 
for the general population.

The drug war may be one example of this.

The current drug laws may be benefiting dope growers more than anyone else.

Drug laws were enacted to reduce the public health risks associated with 
drug abuse. Given that drug use has not been reduced, it seems that the 
well-intentioned laws haven't produced any substantial benefits.

The public health risks have been exacerbated, however, by eliminating all 
regulations on drug potency, purity and toxicity.

Moreover, just as gangs fought over the alcohol market in Al Capone's time, 
much of the gang violence is currently related to the drug business.

If drug laws are not discouraging people from using dope, we should 
probably look at what these laws are doing.

They are enabling a small group of criminally minded individuals to have an 
extremely lucrative monopoly in the dope industry.

The laws are enabling dope growers to sell their crops tax free at 
hyper-inflated prices.

The laws are also motivating growers to heavily arm themselves against both 
the police and rival drug dealers. It is probably much less expensive for 
dope growers to deal with the police than with the taxman.

There isn't anything inherently criminal in smoking marijuana. It isn't 
worse than sniffing glue, diesel or paint thinner.

Moderate drug use probably isn't even worse for your health than being 50 
pounds overweight.

Heart disease -- not drug use -- all is by far the biggest killer in this 
country.

Many people worry that by legalizing marijuana, Canadians would be giving 
their children the message that smoking dope is a worthwhile, socially 
acceptable thing to do.

It doesn't have to be like that. Legalized drugs could be treated just like 
tobacco products.

Even though tobacco is legal in Canada, Health Canada has been very 
successful at reducing smoking by its packaging laws and education campaigns.

Canadians are giving the message that using tobacco is a very unhealthy, 
socially unacceptable thing to do.

Similar packaging laws and education campaigns could be directed at 
reducing drug use.

If people are still foolish enough to abuse drugs, heavy taxes would at 
least partially offset the costs of treating lung cancer and other drug 
related diseases.

I heard that Health Canada was even thinking of suing the tobacco companies 
for all the suffering they cause.

We could also sue the dope companies if they weren't underground and too 
hard to find.

Think about it.

Graham Gerry, Quesnel
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager