Pubdate: Fri, 09 Sep 2005
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Times Colonist
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/victoria/timescolonist/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: Kathy Couch
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1449/a08.html?113443

CRIMINALS SHOULDN'T BE REGULATING DRUGS

Re: "A sparkle in everyone's eye," Sept. 8.

I cried when I read about the 13-year-old girl who died, presumably from 
adulterated drugs bought on the street. It is right to be angry at those 
who sold the drug to her. It is also right to be angry at our government 
which refuses to regulate these drugs.

Had Mercedes-Rae bought a sealed beer that came from a government-regulated 
liquor industry she could be pretty sure of what she was getting. Had she 
bought an ecstasy pill that came from a government-regulated source she 
could also be pretty sure of what she was getting. She would have taken a 
substance that a 13-year-old should not be ingesting, but she would be 
alive. That is why we need to embrace harm reduction and legalize and 
regulate the production and sale of these drugs.

Unfortunately, our government seems to endorse the drug industry being 
regulated by criminals (meaning no regulation at all). When criminals are 
in charge you can never be sure of what you are getting.

Please protect our children from the fate suffered by Mercedes-Rae and her 
family and end prohibition now.

We will never be able to stop all of our children from taking drugs, but we 
can ensure that whatever they experiment with will not kill them.

Kathy Couch,

Nelson.
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