Pubdate: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 Source: DrugSense Weekly (DSW) Website: http://www.drugsense.org LETTER OF THE WEEK BANNING DRUGS PLAYS INTO HAND OF ORGANIZED CRIME FACTION By Wayne Phillips Re: 'Northern Health follies' published Wed., Dec. 2. If "harm reduction" can be equated to aiding and abetting addicts and drug dealers, et al, then surely drug prohibition must likewise be seen as aiding and abetting organized crime (in the perpetuation of drug crime). For if it were not for the prohibition of drugs to begin with, the exasperation of these problems would never have occurred. After all, believing drug prohibition sends "messages" that condemns drugs is sheer nonsense; it's fanciful/magical thinking. Drug prohibition, in effect, gives control of drugs over to organized crime; nothing more, nothing less. All that support it, likewise, aid and abet organized crime; some are just more aware of it then others. Perhaps then picking corpses from the streets is actually preferred over the reduction of harm, yes? Wayne Phillips Hamilton, Ontario Pubdate: Mon, 07 Dec 2009 Source: Prince George Citizen (CN BC) Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n1083/a10.html - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake