Pubdate: Sat, 22 Apr 2006
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 Times Colonist
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n474/a11.html
Author: Elizabeth Woods
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

ILLEGALITY OF RECREATIONAL DRUGS PERPETUATES ORGANIZED-CRIME PROFITS

Re: "We must battle organized crime," editorial, April 16.

The single most effective action the government could take to battle 
organized crime is to cut the gangs' cash flow by legalizing and 
regulating the production and sale of recreational drugs.

The Harper government, unfortunately, persists in following a 
strategy that never has, and never will, work because it is 
illegality itself that perpetuates the profits of organized crime.

The most likely outcomes of tougher sentences are higher prices, 
drawing more people into the trade, and even more violence as gangs 
battle one another.

Jailing dealers merely opens up territory for other dealers to move 
into. Many politicians are afraid to support legalizing drugs for 
fear of seeming to "condone" their use, but until they admit that the 
Criminal Code is the wrong kind of law to control a medical-social 
problem, criminal gangs will continue to flourish, and our civil 
liberties will be threatened.

Elizabeth Woods,

Victoria.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman