Pubdate: Sun, 15 Nov 2015
Source: Sunday Herald, The (UK)
Copyright: 2015 Sunday Herald
Contact:  http://www.sundayherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/873
Author: Hugh Burns
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v15/n635/a01.html

Topic of the week: the war on drugs

LEGALISE DRUGS? THAT'S NO ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM

TWO things puzzle me about Ian Bell's article in last weekend's 
Sunday Herald (How to win the war on drugs? Legalise them, Comment, 
November 8). Firstly, his point that Portugal's decriminalisation has 
resulted in the decrease in the price of street drugs. Isn't an 
increase in the price of addictive substances (booze, fags) meant to 
reduce demand?

Then: "So legalise the lot." Okay, let's. Watch for a massive price 
war between the major supermarkets. Buy one get one free?

Sadly, there is no answer and no-one should pretend they have it; too 
much to lose when, inevitably, things turn out differently from the 
visionary's dream.

Hugh Burns Edinburgh
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom