Pubdate: Wed, 09 May 2012 Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB) Copyright: 2012 N. D. Mansfield Contact: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/opinion/letters/letters-to-the-editor.html Website: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134 Author: N. D. Mansfield SELLERS, BUYERS MAKE A MARKET Re: "Notorious skipper convicted by U.S. jury," the Journal, May 7. The continuous and irrepressible attention given to drug trafficking and the connection to Colombia is as big a smoke screen as could be imagined. John (Phil) Sterling is reported to have been caught with cocaine and marijuana worth $300 million - to whom? A commodity is only worth what purchasers are willing to pay. U.S. citizens spend more than $40 billion a year buying cocaine and marijuana. If they stopped buying their "recreational" drugs tomorrow, this $300-million shipment that was seized would be worthless. Governments spend billions of dollars a year to combat drug trafficking. But I never see individuals being jailed for purchasing cocaine for personal use. I believe our respective governments have the cart before the horse. N. D. Mansfield, St. Albert - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D