Pubdate: Fri, 09 Nov 2007 Source: Coast Reporter (CN BC) Copyright: 2007 Coast Reporter Contact: http://www.coastreporter.net/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/580 Author: Stephanie Douglas, Staff Writer Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) SAVING PEOPLE OR MONEY? Legalizing Drugs Retired judge Jerry Paradis and retired police officer Tony Smith believe that drugs are not as problematic as the money spent to combat them. On Saturday, Nov. 3, both men spoke to an almost full auditorium at Chatelech Secondary School about their beliefs. Moderated by CBC Radio's Mark Forsyth, the event was brought to Sechelt by Capilano College's Eldercollege program as part of a free public speaking forum presenting diverse topics for community dialogue. Paradis and Smith explained to an audience of mostly older adults how their experiences within law enforcement and the justice system in dealing with the outcomes of alcohol, drug addictions, crime and the ineffectiveness of the current war on drugs have fuelled their belief that prohibition is a costly and ineffective way to fight illegal drugs. Both men are members of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) an American organization with a membership of 8,000, comprised mostly of former judges and police officers. Unlike municipal departments, Smith said the RCMP is funded by money through the federal law enforcement program. "People fear drugs, but something to fear far more is alcohol," Smith said. "From late night accidents to riots - these can all be blamed on alcohol. You never hear of a coke riot or a pot riot or even a crack riot." Before becoming a judge in 1975, Paradis spent nine years as defence council. He said through his experiences, the current approach to drugs was absurd. "The first duty of a government is the health, safety and security of their citizens," said Paradis. "The war on drugs and the massive amount of money being spent fighting drugs and not getting anywhere is a government that is not fulfilling its duty to its citizens." Both Paradis and Smith said their main message is that Canada's Americanized approach to fighting drugs hasn't worked in the U.S. and isn't working in Canada - evidenced, they said by the current rate of drug-related violence. Both men believe simply de-criminalizing drugs isn't enough. There has to be legalization, taxation and control by making the drugs available in a monitored context. "Crystal meth doesn't kill," said Paradis, adding he doubted very much that there would be a rise in the use of drugs like crack cocaine, heroine or crystal meth if they were suddenly legal. "If people aren't doing the drugs now, they won't do them just because they can." "Crystal meth is practically identical to the Ritalin people give their kids now . the problem is that it's smoked," added Smith. Sechelt Indian Band member and school district trustee Lori Dixon, who was in the audience, said she was "frightened to hear their views." Dixon said she's seen the destruction wrought in her community by alcohol and by both legal and illegal use of drugs - a devastation she said isn't experienced only by First Nations people, but by many marginalized people and new immigrants as well. "I have a problem with your talk about legalizing drugs," said Dixon, adding one of her major concerns was their lack of mention to any policies around legalizing drugs. "I'm not here to propose policy," said Paradis. "The way we've handled the situation so far hasn't solved any of those problems." Dixon interjected that she couldn't imagine how much worse the situation would be if drugs were readily, easily and legally accessible. Neither Paradis or Smith were able to provide details on what they thought the outcome might be if the first step in their fight against prohibition was legalizing drugs before well funded supports, addictions services and programs were firmly in place. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman