Pubdate: Fri, 26 Oct 2012
Source: Dawson Creek Daily News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Glacier Community Media
Contact:  http://www.dawsoncreekdailynews.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/690
Author: Robert Sharpe

WELL-INTENDED BUT COUNTERPRODUCTIVE

To the Editor:

RCMP marijuana eradication efforts are no doubt well-intended, but
ultimately counterproductive. The drug war's distortion of immutable
laws of supply and demand causes big money to grow on little trees.

Canadian tax dollars are wasted on anti-drug strategies that only make
marijuana growing more profitable. In 2002, the Canadian Senate
offered a common sense alternative to prohibition when the Special
Committee on Illegal Drugs concluded that marijuana is relatively
benign, marijuana prohibition contributes to organized crime, and law
enforcement efforts have little impact on patterns of use.

Consider the experience of Canada's southern neighbor, the former land
of the free and current record holder in citizens incarcerated. Based
on findings that criminal records are inappropriate as health
interventions, a majority of European Union countries have
decriminalized marijuana. Despite marijuana prohibition and perhaps
because of forbidden fruit appeal, lifetime use of marijuana is higher
in the U.S. than any European country. The short-term health effects
of marijuana are inconsequential compared to the long-term effects of
criminal records. Canada should follow the lead of Europe and "Just
Say No" to the American Inquisition.

Robert Sharpe, MPA

Policy Analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy