Pubdate: Fri, 12 Oct 2007
Source: Windsor Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2007 The Windsor Star
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/windsor/windsorstar/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/501
Author: Glen Walker

IF DRUGS ARE LEGALIZED, RELATED VIOLENCE WILL END

In my English class, our teacher gives us time to read the newspaper 
during class. A couple days ago, I read an article that really struck 
a nerve with me.The article was about Stephen Harper's new policy 
about cracking down on drugs. There was a quote from Tory Cannovino 
which read: "That is a corner stone, because a lot of violence is 
related to drugs."

The stupidity of that statement made me want to scream. The reason 
there is violence related to drugs is because drugs are illegal. When 
you make something illegal you create a black market. The only way to 
solve disputes in the black market is with violence. It is exactly 
the same as alcohol prohibition and that didn't work. When alcohol 
was illegal there was plenty of violence and when alcohol prohibition 
was repealed all the violence stopped.

The only way to get rid of a black market is to regulate the product 
legally. You cannot keep throwing drug offenders in jail and think 
there are no more drugs being sold. Somebody will fill in the void 
overnight, because there is money to be made.

Glen Walker

Windsor
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman