Pubdate: Wed, 7 May 2008
Source: Express (Nelson, CN BC)
Copyright: 2008 Kootenay Express Communication Corp.
Contact: http://www.expressnews.ca/letters.html
Website: http://www.expressnews.ca
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2339

LEGALIZE DRUGS SO WE CAN CONTROL THEM ALL

Drugs are a problem that aren't going away in our society. The recent
trial of the Holy Smoke Culture  Shop owners shows this, as do the
constant reports from the RCMP of another grow op or drug lab busted.
At its most personal, drugs are a health problem, affecting the user
in a host of negative ways. There is an option, and that's to legalize
drugs so the government (can) control the quality and eventually wean
people off of them.

Look at what happened with cigarette usage and alcohol
consumption.

At the outset, people over the age of 19 should have access to drugs,
providing they're informed of the effects and possible consequences of
taking the drugs.

Some people get violent when under the influence and these people need
to be given a choice: stop using or be isolated (some form of jail,
perhaps) and left to take the drugs they want. The violent drug user
would only be let out when they stop using the drugs.

This idea is all about stopping some of the violence in our
society.

Drug users who don't have the money to support their habits turn to
crime to support their drug use. This affects people who shouldn't
be.

In conjunction with legalizing drugs, the health establishment has to
be involved in a comprehensive information campaign to let people know
just what they're getting into. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake