Pubdate: Tue, 21 Nov 2006
Source: Evening News, The (CN NS)
Copyright: The Evening News 2006
Contact:  http://www.newglasgownews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3343
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n1557/a09.html
Author: Russell Barth

PROHIBITING DRUGS HELPS TO CREATE BLACK MARKET

To the editor,

Re: Pictou Landing residents want police to tackle drug crimes.

When one considers that junk food will kill many times more Canadians than 
all illegal drugs combined, it is puzzling to see the residents of Pictou 
Landing making drugs such a high priority. Air pollution will kill more 
people than drugs, as will car accidents caused by booze, and diabetes.

But then, "the drug epidemic" is a sensational news item, and a longtime 
favourite of politicians seeking votes, and police officers seeking funding 
and power.

In the last century, when alcohol was illegal, it wasn't the drunks, 
speakeasy owners, or rumrunners who lobbied the government to repeal 
prohibition. They liked prohibition because they made a lot of money and 
had government and police officials on their payroll. The police liked 
prohibition because it meant they were actually relevant.

The people who demanded regulation were mothers, grandmothers, and teachers 
who saw that prohibiting any drug creates a black market that preys on 
children.

How is it that people of 70 years ago were so much smarter than people today?

Russell Barth

Federal Medical Marijuana Licence Holder

Ottawa
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