Pubdate: Wed, 31 Jul 2002 Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB) Copyright: 2002 Calgary Herald Contact: http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66 Author: Robert Sharpe Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1388/a02.html DON'T DO IT THE AMERICAN WAY Catherine Ford's column on marijuana decriminalization was right on target. It's clear to me that Canadian policymakers are a lot more honest than their counterparts in the United States. Tough-on-drugs politicians in Washington have built careers on confusing drug prohibition's collateral damage with a relatively harmless plant. The Canadian Senate's special committee on illegal drugs recently concluded that marijuana is relatively benign, marijuana prohibition contributes to organized crime, and law enforcement efforts have little impact on patterns of use. What the U.S. government likely fears is its growing isolation; it's the current record-holder in number of citizens incarcerated. The U.S. is one of the few western countries that uses its criminal justice system to destroy the lives of citizens who prefer marijuana to martinis. That's hardly reason for Canada to waste scarce resources waging the war on some drugs. Robert P. Sharpe Arlington, Va. Robert P. Sharpe is a program officer with the Drug Policy Alliance. - --- MAP posted-by: Tom