Pubdate: Wed, 03 Aug 2005
Source: Orillia Today (CN ON)
Copyright: 2005, Metroland Printing, Publishing and Distributing
Contact:  http://www.simcoe.com/sc/orillia/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1508
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05.n1212.a07.html

U.S. DRUG POLICY FLAWED

U.S. Needs To Follow Our Lead On Marijuana

How should Ontario respond to the growing use of crystal
methamphetamine?

Here in the United States, New York City chose the zero-tolerance
approach during the crack epidemic of the eighties. Meanwhile,
Washington, DC Mayor Marion Barry was smoking crack and America's
capital had the highest per capita murder rate in the country. Yet
crack use declined in both cities simultaneously.

The decline was not due to a slick anti-drug advertising campaign or
the passage of mandatory minimum sentencing laws. Simply put, the
younger generation saw firsthand what crack was doing to their older
siblings and decided for themselves that crack was bad news.

This is not to say nothing can be done about methamphetamine. Access
to drug treatment is critical for the current generation of users.

In order to protect future generations from hard drugs like meth,
policymakers need to adopt the Canadian Senate's common-sense proposal
to tax and regulate marijuana.

As long as marijuana distribution remains in the hands of organized
crime, consumers will continue to come into contact with addictive
drugs like meth. This "gateway" is the direct result of a
fundamentally flawed policy. Drug policy reform may send the wrong
message to children, but I like to think the children are more
important than the message.

Robert Sharpe

Policy Analyst Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, DC
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin