Pubdate: Wed, 09 Mar 2005
Source: Victoria News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Victoria News
Contact:  http://www.vicnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1267
Author: Jane Sterk

REMEMBER PROHIBITION

Wasn't Prohibition the last time we allowed gangs and organized crime to 
terrorize our communities and kill our police? Are we winning our 
prohibitive, punitive "war on drugs?" More police, more and tougher laws 
and longer sentences just seem to create demand for more and scarier 
substances. We move from marijuana to cocaine and heroin and on to ecstasy 
and crystal methamphetamine. It's time to legalize; control the quality, 
supply and distribution; and tax the sale of these substances.

Doing more of the same failing strategies addicts more children, devastates 
more families and further harms our communities.

At the same time, let's invest in education, prevention and treatment and 
in community programs that create involvement and a sense of belonging. The 
economics alone should make the case.

Jane Sterk

Esquimalt 
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MAP posted-by: Beth