Pubdate: Tue, 5 Feb 2008
Source: Metro (CN BC)
Copyright: Metro 2008
Contact:  http://www.metronews.ca/home.aspx?city=vancouver
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3775
Author: Andrew Fifield
Cited: Project Sundial http://www.itfsdp.org/
Cited: Institute for Policy Studies http://www.ips-dc.org/drugpolicy

NGOs DEBATE DRUG TRADE

Non-government organizations are crafting drug policy because 
governments have abdicated responsibility on the issue, according to 
delegates attending an international drug conference in Vancouver yesterday.

Beyond 2008, a two-day conference at the Morris J. Wosk Centre for 
Dialogue, is a part of worldwide consultations on the progress of a 
1998 United Nations pledge to eradicate illicit drug demand and 
cultivation within 10 years, a pledge that delegates agreed is 
woefully unfulfilled.

However, what was billed as a dialogue descended into debate as the 
simmering tensions that underlie drug policy were quickly exposed by 
bickering between delegates of opposing views.

"Legalization fuels availability and availability fuels use," said 
Kevin Sabet of Project: SUNDIAL, an organization that endorses the 
current law-and-order approach.

Sanho Tree of the Institute for Policy Studies disagreed.

"Prohibition economics is just a political program, but looking tough 
does not get results. Looking tough just inflates the value of drugs." 
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake