Pubdate: Thu, 22 Aug 2002
Source: Hull Daily Mail (UK)
Copyright: 2002 Northcliffe Newspapers Group Ltd
Contact:  http://www.thisishull.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1181

DRUGS POLICY HAS MADE PROBLEM WORSE

In July, 1992, a Mail headline read: "War on the drug pushers", and claimed 
"this switch of tactics" had proved so successful it was to be extended 
throughout East Yorkshire.

Ten years and countless "get the dealer" policies later and the county is 
littered with no-go areas, drug-related crime has spiralled out of control 
and kids are smoking cannabis.

These are the consequences of an insane suppression of information that has 
caused more damage than illegal drugs ever could and proves that 
heavy-handed prohibitionist tactics don't work.

All we have seen is our courts filled with otherwise law-abiding cannabis 
users, alienation of our youth, with criminal organisations growing richer 
by the day.

Now we have opened a gateway to hard drugs by throwing them all into one 
basket along with cannabis - from the safest to most dangerous - under a 
Tackling Drugs Together policy.

Simply saying the word "drugs" has been used as justification for stopping 
and searching people and sniffing people with dogs, confiscating people's 
property, invading tens of thousands of homes and businesses and, more 
recently, drug testing in the workplace.

Is it any wonder that so many have disrespect for the law?

Carl Wagner,
Legalise Cannabis Alliance,
Victoria Square,
Ella Street, Hull.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart