Pubdate: Fri, 04 May 2012 Source: Burnaby Now, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2012 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc. Contact: http://www.burnabynow.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1592 Author: Garth M. Evans TIME TO LEGALIZE AND TAX DRUGS Dear Editor: I see where Prime Minister Harper has been discussing problems respecting illegal drugs with the presidents of the United States and Mexico. The only solution to this problem is to legalize, control and tax all illegal or restricted drugs. The government should control the production and distribution of such drugs and tax them so that the cost is significant but less than being charged by illegal sources. I think distribution should be through government drug stores, and free counselling could be provided for anyone wanting help with getting off drugs. I don't use illegal drugs and would prefer that no one did, but trying to prevent or even control their use in the current regime is hopeless. It didn't work for alcohol during prohibition, and there is no chance it will work now for drugs. The current arrangement wastes so many resources and ruins so many lives. Let's try something different. Garth M. Evans, Burnaby - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart