Pubdate: Fri, 16 Apr 1999
Source: Canberra Times (Australia)
Contact:  http://www.canberratimes.com.au/
Author: Benn Barr, Braddon

MORAL CRUSADERS MUST BE IGNORED

Prohibition never works.

It did not work for alcohol and does not work for marijuana, heroin or any
other illegal substance.

All that making a drug illegal does is put money into the hands of organised
crime.

Education, regulation and taking drugs away from organised crime will not
stop people dying from heroin.

It has not stopped people dying from alcohol.

It may, however, radically reduce the number of deaths and the crime
involved with heroin abuse.

The "war against drugs" does not exist.

It is a war waged by certain sections of Australian society to impose their
moral beliefs and drug of choice (alcohol) onto the rest of society.

Only when the hysterical language of moral crusaders is eliminated from the
drug debate will a sane policy on drug use be possible in this country.

Benn Barr, Braddon

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