Pubdate: Wed, 15 Aug 2012
Source: Vail Daily (CO)
Copyright: 2012 Vail Daily
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/wo3Ts7AI
Website: http://www.vaildaily.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3233
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n404/a03.html

A WAR THAT CAN'T BE WON

Regarding Butch Mazzuca's Aug. 12 column: There is a middle ground
between drug prohibition and blanket legalization. Switzerland's
heroin maintenance program has been shown to reduce disease, death and
crime among chronic users. Providing addicts with standardized doses
in a clinical setting eliminates many of the problems associated with
illicit heroin use. The Swiss program has inspired heroin maintenance
pilot projects in several countries, including Canada.

Marijuana should be taxed and regulated like alcohol, only without the
ubiquitous advertising. Separating the hard and soft drug markets is
critical. As long as organized crime controls marijuana distribution,
consumers will continue to come into contact with sellers of hard drugs.

This "gateway" is a direct result of marijuana prohibition. Unlike
alcohol, marijuana has never been shown to cause an overdose death,
nor does it share the addictive properties of tobacco. Marijuana may
be relatively harmless, but marijuana prohibition is deadly. To learn
more about Canada's heroin maintenance research please
visit:www.naomistudy.ca

Robert Sharpe

Policy Analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy, Washington, D.C.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt