Pubdate: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 Source: Prince Albert Daily Herald (CN SN) Copyright: 2009 Prince Albert Daily Herald Contact: http://www.paherald.sk.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1918 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n866/a01.html Author: Robert Sharpe CURRENT DRUG POLICY ENHANCES CRIME Editor, The Herald: (Re: Gwynne Dyer's Sep. 14 column:) There is a middle ground between drug prohibition and blanket legalization. Switzerland's heroin maintenance program, which provides addicts with standardized doses in a clinical setting has been shown to reduce disease, death and crime among chronic users, eliminates many of the problems associated with illicit heroin use. The success has inspired heroin maintenance pilot projects in Canada, Germany, Spain, Denmark and the Netherlands. If expanded, prescription heroin maintenance would render illegal heroin trafficking unprofitable. Marijuana should be taxed and regulated like alcohol, only without the ubiquitous advertising. As long as marijuana distribution is controlled by organized crime, consumers of the most popular illicit drug will continue to come into contact with sellers of addictive drugs like methamphetamine. Marijuana is arguably safer than legal alcohol; it makes no sense to waste tax dollars on failed drug policies that finance organized crime and facilitate the use of hard drugs. Robert Sharpe, Common Sense for Drug Policy Washington, D.C. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake