Pubdate: Thu, 18 Aug 2011 Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC) Copyright: 2011 The Vancouver Sun Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/letters.html Website: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477 Author: Jane Sterk TAX AND REGULATE ILLICIT DRUGS LIKE ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO It is a sad week in B. C. where automatic weapons and the economy of illegal drugs expose us to the kind of behaviour we normally associate with struggling countries and challenged communities. With gang violence and the drug economy related to deaths, what are the challenges our communities face? Why do we have these killings? Where is our community going to go if we don't address the root causes? Many of our leaders will blame drug users for the problem here because they fund these illegal activities. Maybe more people are to blame. If as a society drugs are consumed, then we need to regulate and tax these consumables like we do alcohol. We know alcohol can be a negative force on our streets, in our homes and in our health care system, yet many continue to drink. Let's please put an end to extortion, prostitution and the weapons trade by taxing and regulating drug use on a footing equal to alcohol and tobacco. Jane Sterk Green party of B. C. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.