Pubdate: Sat, 01 Oct 2016 Source: Recorder & Times, The (CN ON) Copyright: 2016 Recorder and Times Contact: http://www.recorder.ca/letters Website: http://www.recorder.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2216 Author: Emile Therien Page: A6 WAR ON DRUGS CAN'T BE WON... STRATEGIZE INSTEAD To the editor: The drug trade is perpetuating violence and cruelty that is mind-boggling and unprecedented. The futile war on drugs simply cannot be won. Continuing to defy and ignore more than 100 years of failed prohibition is counterproductive and irresponsible. Prohibition, as history shows, whether it be for alcohol or illegal drugs, fuels violent crime Law enforcement, in and by itself, simply does not, nor has ever, reduced or dried up the supply of illegal drugs. Reducing the amount of illegal drugs in any community only increases the violence ... the lesser the amount, the greater the fight among drug gangs to control the remaining supply. Drug lords are not dumb; it's simple economics. The financial benefits of legalizing illicit drugs are huge. This is not to suggest that legalizing illegal drugs would be problem-free. That said, it is now time to deprive drug lords, organized crime and narco-states of the huge, tax-free profits realized for illicit drug use. When dealing with gang violence, focusing on failed solutions does not and has never worked. What we need is a strategy that focuses on crime prevention through social development. Who is up to this challenge? Emile Therien, Public Health and Safety Advocate, Ottawa - --- MAP posted-by: Matt