Pubdate: Sat, 01 Nov 2014 Source: Independent (UK) Copyright: 2014 Independent Newspapers (UK) Ltd. Contact: http://www.independent.co.uk/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/209 Author: Simon Prentis ELECTORATE SHOULD BE GIVEN CHOICE ON DRUGS POLICY As always, what is missing from the current debate about drugs is any discussion about why we take them in the first place. We are rightly concerned that everyone, especially our children, should be educated about the potential ill-effects of drugs and the possible health dangers. But unless we acknowledge that there are legitimate and positive reasons why a person might seek to get high, the "war against drugs" will not make much progress. Humans have been using "recreational" drugs for millennia, and for most people it is generally a positive experience. There are dangers of course - but these are mainly associated with excess use and poor quality. With alcohol and tobacco - two of the most dangerous substances - we have wisely placed legal controls on both use and supply, and the Treasury benefits substantially from the taxes that are levied. It's about time we learnt to do the same for all other drugs. Prohibition does not work. Legally or otherwise, people are going to continue to take drugs because in the right context they are enjoyable and fun. But like any other form of human activity, there needs to be accepted limits that are regulated and controlled. The unregulated free market does not work for drugs any more than it does for finance - or anything else. Simon Prentis Cheltenham - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom