Pubdate: Tue, 15 Mar 2005 Source: Canberra Chronicle (Australia) Copyright: 2005 Canberra Chronicle Note: No current verified information is available for this source. Author: M McConnell DEBATE NEEDED The comments by six citizens interviewed about the recent toughening of cannabis laws in the ACT (The Chronicle March 8, p 3) is typical of any discussion about illegal drugs. It is mostly one sided and born of ignorance with calls for tougher laws in the expectation that this will either stop the trafficking or stop people using. This response comes even though very tough drug laws introduced in the past have never achieved any of these things. This ignorance is not necessarily the fault of those interviewed but rather because the other side of the debate is rarely allowed to be heard. What is desperately needed is an open, honest and rational debate which addresses issues like the part played by the huge black market profits, the consequences of a criminal record for young people, the effects of school expulsions for drug use, and the alienation of families caused by the current drug laws as well as the illusory effect of the huge drug busts. Most importantly, what is required is for our law and policy makers to seriously consider implementing alternative laws and policies that will effectively reduce the use of and harm from drugs. Until that is done we will continue, as Albert Einstein once defined insanity "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results". M McConnell Higgins - --- MAP posted-by: Beth