Pubdate: Tue, 20 Jan 2009
Source: North Island Gazette (CN BC)
Copyright: 2009 Black Press
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/Wy0dnBlK
Website: http://www.northislandgazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2783
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referred: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n045/a07.html

WAR ON DRUGS HELPS THE DEALERS

Please consider publishing the following brief letter in response to 
Tom Fletcher's Jan. 14th column:

RCMP marijuana eradication efforts are no doubt well-intended, but 
ultimately counterproductive. The drug war's distortion of immutable 
laws of supply and demand causes big money to grow on little trees.

Canadian tax dollars are being wasted on anti-drug strategies that 
only make marijuana growing more profitable. In 2002, the Canadian 
Senate offered a common sense alternative to prohibition when the 
Special Committee on Illegal Drugs concluded that marijuana is 
relatively benign, marijuana prohibition contributes to organized 
crime, and law enforcement efforts have little impact on patterns of use.

Consider the experience of Canada's southern neighbour, the former 
land of the free and current record holder in citizens incarcerated. 
Based on findings that criminal records are inappropriate as health 
interventions, a majority of European Union countries have 
decriminalized marijuana. Despite marijuana prohibition lifetime use 
of marijuana is higher in the U.S. than any European country. The 
short-term health effects of marijuana are inconsequential, compared 
to the long-term effects of criminal records. Canada should follow 
the lead of Europe and Just Say No to the American Inquisition.

Robert Sharpe

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, DC
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom