Pubdate: Sat, 06 Oct 2007 Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB) Copyright: 2007 Winnipeg Free Press Contact: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/info/letters/index.html Website: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) WRONG DRUG WAR IN the context of Conservative party thinking, the anti-drug strategy unveiled by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Winnipeg on Thursday was a fairly reasonable one. It did not, as had been widely speculated in the eastern media, target users. Rather, it holds out a helping hand to them, offering both assistance and solace. It does not close the door on safe injection sites for drug users, such as the one that exists in Vancouver, although it does not open it any wider either. The Tories had planned to close that site, but Health Minister Tony Clement, in the face of protests, rendered the issue moot by granting it a six-month extension to allow for further research just days before Mr. Harper's announcement. That cleared the field for the big guns of the new drug war -- tough new measures to crack down on suppliers and dealers. Noting that there were no minimum sentencing provisions for "producing and trafficking dangerous drugs like methamphetamines and cocaine," Mr. Harper said: "These are serious crimes; those who commit them should do serious time." There will be laws brought forward by his government to that effect, he said. Despite the tough talk, the $63.8 million anti-drug strategy that Mr. Harper announced on Thursday sensibly targets most of those millions on prevention and cure rather than punishment. Treatment services for drug abusers will get $32.2 million; $10 million will go towards education; and only $21.6 million will go to beefing up law enforcement efforts to crack down on production and dealing. There is nothing really wrong with this policy, although the Liberals and especially the NDP are making foolishly indignant noises. Crack down on dealers, help users, provide therapy --what's to object to? Unfortunately, it also is not a very useful policy. It will make little difference in Canada's drug climate -- more crowded prisons, slightly busier rehab centres, that's it. What needs to be changed is the approach to illegal drugs. Canada needs to take the trade out of the hands of organized crime, out of the purview of petty criminals, and regulate its sale and use. That would eliminate the criminal element of the problem, and put the health problem front and centre where it can be openly dealt with. Unfortunately, no serious political party has the courage to campaign on that today. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake