Pubdate: Fri, 01 Dec 2006
Source: Peace Arch News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 Peace Arch News
Contact:  http://www.peacearchnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1333
Author: Robert Sharpe

MARIJUANA SHOULD BE REGULATED

Editor;

Regarding Tom Fletcher's column (Peace Arch News, Nov. 22), there is 
a middle ground between drug prohibition and blanket legalization.

Switzerland's heroin maintenance program has been shown to reduce 
disease, death and crime among chronic users. Providing addicts with 
standardized doses in a clinical setting eliminates many problems 
associated with heroin use.

Heroin maintenance pilot projects are underway in Canada, England, 
Germany, Spain and the Netherlands. If expanded, prescription heroin 
maintenance would deprive organized crime of a core client base.

This would render illegal heroin trafficking unprofitable and spare 
future generations addiction.

Marijuana should be taxed and regulated like alcohol, only without 
the ubiquitous advertising.

Separating the hard and soft drug markets is critical. As long as 
marijuana distribution remains in the hands of organized crime, 
consumers of the most popular illicit drug will continue to come into 
contact with sellers of cocaine.

Robert Sharpe

Common Sense for Drug Policy
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MAP posted-by: Elaine