Pubdate: Fri, 14 Oct 2005
Source: National Post (Canada)
Copyright: 2005 Southam Inc.
Contact:  http://www.nationalpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286
Author: Ian C. MacLeod

A HAWK AND A DOVE IN THE WAR ON DRUGS

As a parent of four adult children and a former bank manager, 
corporate lawyer and chamber of commerce president, I do not use 
consciousness-altering drugs myself, except for the occasional Scotch 
whisky. But even the most basic cost/benefit analysis on the war on 
drugs shows that it is a sham.

First, there is the cost. A very large part of the budget of the 
police, coast guard, customs, prosecutors, judges, jails and parole 
officers directly relates to the fact that drugs are illegal, not to 
the harm of the drugs themselves.

Because drug users, particularly addicts, are forced underground, 
they are precluded from medical treatment, leading to the spread of 
AIDS and hepatitis to the whole community. Drugs that cannot be 
obtained legally are being used to enslave prostitutes.

The respect for the rule of law has long since been compromised, as a 
huge number of young people have experimented with marijuana. They 
now see the law banning this substance as irrelevant.

So what benefits have been derived from the war on drugs? It has 
undoubtedly stopped a few people from becoming problem drug users, 
but based on European experience, not a lot.

Is that benefit to a few worth the costs? The war on drugs, almost by 
definition, is a losing one. The whole premise behind the war is that 
it is a supply-side problem -- namely, if one gets rid of the supply 
and the pushers, there wouldn't be a problem. But the drug industry 
exists because of demand -- people want the drugs. As long as that is 
the case, someone will supply that demand. The more it is made 
illegal, the more profit there is for the supplier.

If we moved even a small percentage of the costs of this war into 
regulation, treatment and education, we might actually do some good 
for our youth and our addicted users, and in turn benefit us all. 
Just look at what has happened with cigarettes, through education and taxation.

Our law, health, tax base and domestic and international security 
depend on our taking a new approach.

Ian C. MacLeod

Richmond, B.C.
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman