Pubdate: Thu, 04 Oct 2007 Source: Mirror (CN QU) Copyright: 2007 Communications Gratte-Ciel Ltee Contact: http://www.montrealmirror.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/267 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?142 (Supervised Injection Sites) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Marijuana - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?199 (Mandatory Minimum Sentencing) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Stephen+Harper DOPEY DRUG WARS Just a few short years ago, Americans were getting mad at us because Canada was so close to decriminalizing pot, you could smell the skunk in the air. But this week, Stephen Harper's (still) New Government has announced plans to overhaul and toughen drug laws, bringing us ever-closer to the destructive, counter-productive and often idiotic American model. Drug offenders can expect stiffer penalties, anti-drug campaigns will be ramped up and border guards will get more money. But no cash is set aside for treatment or harm-reduction measures like safe injection sites. The plan's many critics-ranging from the federal Liberals to physicians to academics-say this is another example of pandering to people's fears, and of ideology trumping science. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake