Pubdate: Mon, 02 Mar 2009 Source: Globe and Mail (Canada) Copyright: 2009 The Globe and Mail Company Contact: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/feedback/?form=lettersToTheEditorForm Website: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168 Author: Martin Ouellette Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n241/a04.html IN THE POCKET OF GANGS "Drugs, we know, is the currency of gangs and organized crime," says Justice Minister Rob Nicholson - and, barring grammar, he's correct (Ottawa Vows To Toughen Laws Against Gangs - Feb. 28). There's only one sure way to make said currency tank even faster than the dollar and thus yank the financial rug from under gangster scum: the decriminalization of all drugs and the legalization of marijuana. Mr. Nicholson's prescription for the problem of violence is to create more of it - more cops, more prisoners and thus a higher street price for all drugs. In a spiralling economy, the worst possible policy is to make the drug trade more lucrative than it already is - unless, of course, one is invested in the prison industry or lives in the pocket of gangs. MARTIN OUELLETTE Toronto - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom