Pubdate: Mon, 07 May 2001 Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON) Section: Editorial/Opinion; Pg. 14; Letters To The Editor Copyright: 2001, Canoe Limited Partnership Contact: http://www.canoe.ca/TorontoSun/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457 Author: Robert Sharpe Note: Comment in parentheses at end is comment of Toronto Sun editor Note: Headline by MAP Editor COMPELLING POT SMOKERS TO RESORT TO HEROIN Premier Mike Harris has failed to consider that driving drug use underground only compounds the problem. The plan to coerce welfare recipients into drug treatment will have the perverse effect of forcing addicts to suffer in silence. The drug tests used to enforce this misguided policy could very well compel pot smokers to resort to heroin and crack to avoid detection. Marijuana is the only drug that stays in the body long enough to make urinalysis a deterrent. Harder drugs are water-soluble and exit the human body within 48 hours or less. Robert Sharpe Program Officer, Lindesmith Center/ Drug Policy Foundation Washington, DC (There's an argument we hadn't heard before) - --- MAP posted-by: Beth