Pubdate: Fri, 20 Jan 2006
Source: Herald, The (UK)
Copyright: 2006 The Herald
Contact:  http://www.theherald.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/189
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n098/a03.html?277825

MIDDLE WAY BETWEEN PROHIBITION AND LEGALISATION

Regarding Neil McKeganey's column (January 20), there is a middle 
ground between drug prohibition and blanket legalisation. 
Switzerland's heroin maintenance trials have been shown to reduce 
disease, death and crime among chronic users. Providing addicts with 
standardised doses in a clinical setting eliminates many of the 
problems associated with heroin use. Heroin maintenance pilot 
projects are under way in Canada, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands. 
If expanded, prescription heroin maintenance would deprive organised 
crime of a core client base. This would render illegal heroin 
trafficking unprofitable and spare future generations addiction.

Cannabis should be taxed and regulated like alcohol, only without the 
ubiquitous advertising. Separating the hard and soft drug markets is 
critical. As long as cannabis distribution remains in the hands of 
organised crime, consumers of the most popular illicit drug will 
continue to come into contact with sellers of hard drugs like cocaine.

This "gateway" is the direct result of a fundamentally flawed policy. 
Given that cannabis arguably is safer than legal alcohol, it makes no 
sense to waste tax revenue on failed policies that finance organised 
crime and facilitate the use of hard drugs. Drug policy reform may 
send the wrong message to children, but the children are more 
important than the message.

Robert Sharpe, policy analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy, PO Box 
59181, Washington, DC, USA.
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