Pubdate: Wed, 15 Feb 2012
Source: Sooke News Mirror (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Sooke News Mirror
Contact:  http://www.sookenewsmirror.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2142
Author: Brian Nimeroski
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n123/a04.html?1154

IMPAIRMENT COSTS US ALL

Further to "Alcohol more harmful than marijuana" (Feb. 8 Sooke News
Mirror).

Part of LEAP Canada's stated mission is "to lessen the incidence of
death, disease, crime and addiction by ultimately ending drug
prohibition."

In the 2011 report, estimating the number and cost of impairment, MADD
estimates that between 1999 and 2008, alcohol-impaired car crashes
cost the country about $20 billion, or some $600 per capita. To
British Columbia, this would be an annual cost of about $3 billion.

A 2006 report to the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse shows the
annual cost of alcohol abuse to Ontario, in 2006, to be more than $5
billion. In 2012 it would be even more. Costs to Ontario associated
with tobacco consumption exceed even those related to alcohol.

Pro-rating these per capita amounts to B.C. would leave this province
with combined annual health and social costs for two legalized drugs
exceeding $5 billion.

Is the answer here to be found in delisting cannabis to the status of
another legalized, recreational drug? Maybe not.

Brian Nimeroski

Sooke
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MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.