Pubdate: Fri, 24 Mar 2006 Source: Salmon Arm Observer (CN BC) Copyright: 2006 Salmon Arm Observer Contact: http://www.saobserver.net/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1407 Author: Russell Barth DRUG PROHIBITION IS ABSURD When it comes to drug abuse, health care professionals and social workers usually advocate medical treatment and therapy. Many high-ranking police and government officials, however, still insist that the best way to prevent drug use - and to win "The War On Drugs" - is to put more people in jail, and for longer periods of time. They are advocating an extremely violent punishment for a non-violent crime. They are also "sending a message" to the the rest of us, which is that they are in charge, and are willing to do any one of us terrible physical harm for the smallest infraction. There is no good reason to take policy advice from someone with such monstrous opinions. My understanding is that jail is a dirty, violent place where one comes into contact with deadly diseases, sexual predators, and hard drugs. The terrible psychological effects alone are enough to badly damage most people permanently. This could be the reason why some judges are giving light sentences for marijuana crimes. They are sensible enough to realize that sending someone into a potentially deadly environment for something that is essentially a "consumer choice," is much like saying that it is okay to beat your teenager half to death for sneaking into the liquor cabinet. Not only does imprisonment serve as an unnecessary short-term financial burden to society, it will probably cause more long-term harm to the prisoner than good, along with a greater cost to taxpayers. This could also be the reason why the law is no deterrent. Deep down - whether they admit it or not - everyone knows that prohibition is not only an unsound policy, it is completely absurd. We don't need the government and police to act as a "stern father," and all science and history indicate that when it comes to recreational substances, regulation and education work better than prohibition. It is very frightening to think that our police officers - who get their salaries from the taxpayers and are supposed to protect and serve - would like to see someone go to a horribly violent place, simply for possessing marijuana, or growing some in their home. Keeping the population obedient to the state under the threat of violence or death is akin to terrorism, in my view. There is one group of law-enforcement officials that has a different view, however. They are called Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) and they can be found at www.leap.cc. Russell Barth Federal Medical Marijuana License Holder, Ottawa - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake