Pubdate: Wed, 29 Feb 2012
Source: National Post (Canada)
Copyright: 2012 Canwest Publishing Inc.
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/wEtbT4yU
Website: http://www.nationalpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286
Author: Robert Sharpe, Policy Analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n152/a08.html
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n152/a09.html

WHAT'S WORSE. THE WAR ON DRUGS OR THE DRUG ITSELF?

Re: Learning A Lesson From America's Failed War On Drugs, Jesse Kline, Feb. 24.

Those seeking to emulate the tough on-some-drugs policies of Canada's
southern neighbour can expect similarly bad results. Despite zero
tolerance, more U.S. teenagers now use illegal marijuana than legal
tobacco. Tobacco use has declined considerably in both Canada and the
United States. 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 U.S. drug war has done little
other than give the former land of the free the highest incarceration
rate in the world.

Robert Sharpe,

policy analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, D.C.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.