Pubdate: Mon, 20 Feb 2012 Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB) Copyright: 2012 Canwest Publishing Inc. Contact: http://www2.canada.com/calgaryherald/letters.html Website: http://www.calgaryherald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66 Author: Robert Sharpe, Policy Analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy. Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n130/a09.html Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n135/a04.html POT PREFERRED Re: "Where does bizarre crime fixation of Conservatives come from?" Michael Den Tandt, Opinion, Feb. 15. Tories seeking to emulate the tough-on-some-drugs policies of Canada's southern neighbour can expect similar results. Despite zero tolerance, more U.S. teenagers use marijuana than tobacco. Tobacco use has declined considerably in Canada and the U.S. Public education has proven more effective than mass incarceration. The decline in highly addictive tobacco use was accomplished without any need to jail smokers or further enrich cartels via tobacco prohibition. The drug war has done little other than give the U.S. the highest incarceration rate in the world. Robert Sharpe Washington, D.C. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.