Pubdate: Wed, 22 Jul 2009 Source: Calgary Sun, The (CN AB) Copyright: 2009 The Calgary Sun Contact: http://www.calgarysun.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/67 Author: Alan Randell Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n707/a02.html DRUG USERS SCAPEGOATED In "Drug fight worthwhile," July 15, Roy Clancy writes "... but nobody would argue other drugs (other than marijuana) do anything but slowly destroy the user." I would. Canada's 1973 Le Dain Commission concluded "there appears to be little permanent physiological damage from chronic use of pure opiate narcotics." Selling fear to the public has always been a mainstay of the media (and police, for that matter). Taking a "tough on crime" stance, particularly in a climate of perpetual fear created by the "war on drugs" and "war on terrorism," is a politically safe posture. "Criminals" have no lobbying groups. There is no political price to pay for attacking such an easy scapegoat. Clancy did his job well. ALAN RANDELL (There's little public support for legalizing all drugs) - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr