Pubdate: Tue, 08 Aug 2017
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2017 The Toronto Star
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v17/n254/a01.html
Author: Alan Randell
Page: A10

BANNING DRUGS ONLY MAKES THEM MORE DANGEROUS

Re Think twice before decriminalizing drugs, DiManno, Aug. 7

I couldn't disagree more with Rosie Dimanno. Nearly all the harm done
to users and non-users alike by illegal drugs is because the drugs are
prohibited. Thousands were poisoned by adulterated booze during
Prohibition and thousands more are dying today because of adulterated
drugs, an aspect of government policy my wife and I became well
acquainted with when our 19-year-old son, Peter, died shortly after
ingesting some street heroin in 1993.

Let us never forget also that the prohibition of drugs, other than
alcohol, has racist origins. It began almost a century ago when the
drugs used by non-white minorities were banned ostensibly to protect
virtuous, white, Christian women from being seduced.

Middle-class white swingers can indulge their pleasures with impunity.
Drug laws apply only to certain social groups: minorities, the poor,
the young, the unemployed, those on the street.

Alan Randell, Victoria
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MAP posted-by: Matt