Pubdate: Fri, 09 Dec 2011 Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB) Copyright: 2011 Michael Dowling Contact: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/send_a_letter Website: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502 Author: Michael Dowling Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n686/a07.html NO SOLUTION AT ALL Re: Robert Sharpe's letter (Regulate 'soft' drugs, Dec. 7) proposing the legal sale of marijuana while continuing the prohibition of hard drugs. Even if pot were legalized, drug peddlers would continue to sell it, as they do now, to children too young to buy it legally, while still exposing them to hard drugs. Selective legalization is equivalent to permitting the sale of wine and beer, while keeping spirits illegal. It leaves criminals in control of a lucrative market, while exposing addicts to all kinds of risks. Helping kids avoid drugs should be the responsibility of parents in conjunction with anti-drug public-service announcements. MICHAEL DOWLING Winnipeg - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom