Pubdate: Mon, 11 Sep 2000
Date: 09/11/2000
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Author: John Allen
Note:  titles supplied by MAP

Police have seized $248 million of heroin.  Junkies get 10 cents on
the dollar for stolen goods.  So the police have prevented millions of
dollars in thefts from homes, cars and businesses.  Right?

Wrong!  The big bust will create a shortage of heroin. Street price
will possibly double to $70 per cap.  Junkies need their fix at any
price, so they will now steal twice as much to buy drugs.

Instead of burning the confiscated dope, why not give it away free to
the junkies in a controlled environment?  This would eliminate
property crimes, destroy the profit factor for other dealers and give
us all a break from the social cost of heroin addiction.

The plan would even provide opportunites to rehabilitate the junkies
who would have time to deal with health and personal issues since they
would no longer be employed as full-time thieves.

John Allen,
Harrison