Pubdate: Thu, 19 Jan 2012
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 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: F. G. Higgs

LIBERAL RECOGNITION OF FAILED WAR ON DRUGS SHOWS 'JAM'

Re: Liberals have gone to pot to renew party in the West, Jan. 16

Finally, some sanity emerges on Canada's political landscape. Liberal
leader Bob Rae got it exactly right, "The war on drugs has been a
complete bust!"

True, North American society has yet to get alcohol abuse under total
control, but the regulation in place today is far more thoughtful than
prohibition ever was.

However, as with tobacco, alcohol use is the subject of tough
measures, starting with advertising, price, avail-ability, use and
abuse.

Why not marijuana? Maybe, just maybe, the vicious, counterproductive
recycling of crime and criminals, with the attendant loss of non-
taxable riches, could be unravelled. Surely we need to start
somewhere, and not on the foundation of past failure.

There is a whole "industry" with vested interests on both sides of
Canada's drug laws. It will be tough. Glad the Liberals have the jam
and are pre-pared to do some heavy lifting.

F.G. Higgs Pitt Meadows
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MAP posted-by: Matt