Pubdate: Sat, 29 Jan 2011 Source: Toronto Star (CN ON) Copyright: 2011 The Toronto Star Contact: http://www.thestar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456 Author: Robert Sharpe Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n048/a06.html 'WAR ON DRUGS' ONLY FUELS CRIME Re: The war on drugs is lost, Opinion Jan. 23 Regarding Fernando Henrique Cardoso's thoughtful op-ed, the drug war is a cure worse than the disease. Attempts to limit the supply of illegal drugs while demand remains constant only increase the profitability of drug trafficking. For addictive drugs like heroin, a spike in street prices leads desperate addicts to increase criminal activity to feed desperate habits. The drug war doesn't fight crime, it fuels crime. The good news is that Canada has already adopted many of the common sense harm reduction interventions first pioneered in Europe. The bad news is Canada's southern neighbour continues to export a dangerous moral crusade around the globe. Can Canada afford to emulate the harm-maximization approach of the former land of the free and current record holder in citizens incarcerated? Robert Sharpe, Policy Analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy, Washington, D.C. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom