Pubdate: Wed, 08 May 2002
Source: Halifax Herald (CN NS)
Copyright: 2002 The Halifax Herald Limited
Contact:  http://www.herald.ns.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/180
Author: Robert Sharpe

PROHIBITION DEADLY

Dear Editor:

I hope Canadian taxpayers didn't spend too much on the Canadian Centre on 
Substance Abuse study mentioned in your May 1 article. That alcohol is the 
drug most often associated with violent behaviour is well established. The 
United States tried prohibiting alcohol once, with disastrous results. 
Organized crime flourished and kids had easier access to alcohol than ever, 
once unscrupulous mobsters took over the distribution.

The lessons learned and their relevance to the drug war are lost on today's 
policy-makers. Forcibly limiting the supply of illegal drugs while demand 
remains constant only increases the profitability of trafficking. In terms 
of addictive drugs like heroin, a spike in street prices leads addicts to 
increase criminal activity to feed habits.

Taxing and regulating marijuana, the most popular illicit drug, is a 
cost-effective alternative to a never-ending drug war. There is a big 
difference between condoning marijuana use and protecting children from 
drugs. Decriminalization acknowledges the social reality of marijuana use 
and frees users from the stigma of life-shattering criminal records.

Separating the hard and soft drug markets is critical. Marijuana may be 
relatively harmless compared to legal alcohol, but marijuana prohibition is 
deadly. As long as marijuana distribution remains in the hands of organized 
crime, consumers will come in contact with hard drugs like cocaine.

Robert Sharpe,

MPA, program officer, Drug Policy Alliance, Washington, D.C.
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MAP posted-by: Beth