Pubdate: Thu, 22 Feb 2007
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2007 The Province
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/theprovince/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Michael Muirhead
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

DRUG ECONOMICS

Insp. Dean Robinson of the Vancouver police drug section says: "Doing 
[criminal] business in Vancouver is going to become as expensive as 
we can possibly make it."

Oh really? What planet does Robinson live on?

All that will be accomplished is an increase in the price of these 
"criminal" drugs, with a subsequent increase in crime to pay for the 
higher cost.

Legalize and regulate these drugs, and not only do you make it 
cheaper for users, but you also remove the incredible profit margins 
made in the illicit market.

Remove that greed motive, provide a regulatory framework, and today's 
"illicit" drugs" are tomorrow's tobacco, alcohol and 
over-the-counter, prescription medications.

They will be as safe as they can be made, and they will be used as 
sensibly as they can be marketed and managed.

If the only thing "the law" can offer the millions who pay for its 
protection is to occasionally take a few of these bloodsuckers out of 
business, then the law is an ass.

Michael Muirhead,

Queen Charlotte
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman