When enough states legalize marijuana, the federal government will probably do the same. This will lead to many more people using it because they didn't want to break the law. I predict that after federal law allows the recreational use of marijuana, the drug activists will begin campaigning for the legalization of cocaine. The arguments for legal marijuana will also apply to cocaine. It seems that America is heading down the path of moral degradation. William Armstrong, St. Petersburg [end]
The Safer Inhalation Program that gives clean crack-pipe kits to Ottawa addicts is badly named. It implies that inhaling a highly addictive drug is safe but can be made safer. Inhaling crack is never safe. The order in which the "four pillars" of Ottawa's anti-drugs program -- treatment, prevention, harm-reduction and enforcement -- are listed also is flawed. Surely prevention is the most important. If harm-reduction includes reducing the spread of HIV, a fifth pillar, detection, is required. Those infected can't be treated if they are not identified. [continues 86 words]
Re: Safe injection site a public health measure, Aug. 1. If I serve someone an alcoholic drink and that person subsequently is involved in an accident, I may end up in court. In a current lawsuit, it will be argued that Gatineau city staff should have known a tree on a toboggan slope was a hazard. What are the legal issues associated with a safe injection site? If I were mugged by an addict who frequented such a site, I'd be tempted to claim that the people operating it should have foreseen the likelihood of such an attack. Drug addicts endanger others in order to feed their habit. [continues 65 words]
