Pubdate: Tue, 07 Feb 2012
Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB)
Copyright: 2012 Winnipeg Free Press
Contact: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/send_a_letter
Website: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502
Author: Chris Buors

MISTAKEN ABOUT DRUGS

Letter writer Lou Spakowski (Views badly flawed, Feb. 2) is mistaken 
to think that the drug-prohibition laws are stopping people who want 
to use drugs from doing so. Prohibition stopped few people from 
having a drink when alcohol was prohibited. What makes anyone think 
the prohibition law stops drug users today?

It is not the taxes that government collects from tobacco and alcohol 
that keeps those products legal. It is the experience humanity has 
gained prohibiting alcohol in the past that keeps those products legal.

Gangs led by the likes of Al Capone arose to supply the liquor 
demand. Street shootouts became commonplace, with gangs vying for 
control of a lucrative black market. Citizens went blind and died of 
adulterated alcohol. In short, the problems alcohol itself caused 
were minor when compared to the problems prohibition caused.

Chris Buors

Winnipeg
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