Pubdate: Mon, 17 Dec 2007
Source: Edson Leader (CN AB)
Copyright: 2007 Edson Leader
Contact:  http://www.edsonleader.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/780
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n1407/a01.html
Author: Eric Myrholm

WAR ON DRUGS BETTER THAN LEGALIZATION

To the Editor:

In the Dec. 3 edition of your paper there was a letter from an 
"Apologist" against drug prohibition stating that: "Drug use is bad, 
but the drug war is worse."

The Legalization Lobby claims that the fight against drugs cannot be 
won. However, in the U.S., overall drug use is down by more than 
one-third in the last 20 years, while cocaine use has dropped by an 
astounding 70 per cent. [An alleged] Ninety-five per cent of 
Americans do not use drugs. This is success by any standards.

Crime, violence and drug use go hand in hand.

Six times as many homicides are committed by people under the 
influence of drugs, as those who are looking for money to buy drugs.

Fact: most drug crimes aren't committed by people trying to pay for 
drugs; they're committed by people on drugs. Only about five per cent 
of inmates in federal prison are there because of simple possession. 
Most drug criminals are in jail, even on possession charges, because 
they have plea-bargained down from major trafficking offences or more 
violent crimes.

"The apologists also state that dollars are wasted in anti-drug 
efforts: But for those kids saved from drug addiction, this is hardly 
wasted dollars. Moreover, our fight against drug abuse and addiction 
is an ongoing struggle that should be treated like any other social problem.

Would we give up on education or poverty simply because we haven't 
eliminated all problems? Compared to the social costs of drug abuse 
and addiction -- whether in taxpayer dollars or in pain and suffering 
- -- government spending on drug control is minimal.

The Legalization Lobby claims drugs are no more dangerous than 
alcohol. But drunk driving is one of the primary killers of North Americans.

Do we want our bus drivers, nurses, and airline pilots to be able to 
take drugs one evening, and operate freely at work the next day? Do 
we want to add to the destruction by making drugged driving another 
primary killer?

I was recently contacted by a pro-marijuana individual who compared 
my stand that "marijuana is a dangerous drug" to him telling me "that 
the earth is flat." There is proof that the earth is round, there is 
also proof that marijuana is a dangerous drug.

Who should we believe about the danger of drugs? Researchers who are 
concerned about the health of a nation or users who feel that they 
have something to gain by the legalization of drugs? I would side 
with the researchers who are looking after our health.

If it is felt that marijuana must be used for medical reasons, there 
is a safe version of medical marijuana which isolates the active 
ingredient of THC. This has been studied and approved by the FDA in 
the USA as a safe medicine.

The difference is that you have to get a prescription from a licenced 
physician. You can't buy it on a street corner, and you don't smoke it.

Eric Myrholm

Abbotsford, B.C.
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