Pubdate: Sat, 19 Nov 2005
Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON)
Copyright: 2005 The Ottawa Citizen
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1773/a01.html

EDUCATION WORKS

Re: Let judges judge, Nov. 12.

Regarding your thoughtful editorial, if mandatory minimum prison 
sentences deterred drug use, Canada's southern neighbour would be a 
"drug-free" America. That's not the case.  The drug war has done 
little other than turn the former land of the free into the world's 
biggest jailer. It's worth nothing that tobacco use has declined 
considerably in recent years. Public education efforts are paying 
off.  Apparently mandatory minimum sentences, civil asset forfeiture, 
random drug testing and racial profiling are not necessarily the most 
cost-effective means of discouraging unhealthy choices.

Robert Sharpe, Washington, D.C.

Policy analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake