Pubdate: Thu, 25 Jul 2013 Source: the Local (CN BC) Copyright: 2013 The Local - Powered by Aberdeen Publishing Contact: http://www.thelocalweekly.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5464 Note: Published Thursdays Authors: Judith and Paul Renaud FEDS INVENT THE FACTS Re: "Cory Monteith loved by many", July 18, 2013 Cory Monteith died of a combination of alcohol and a heroin overdose. Known to many people for his role in Glee, he will now play a vital role in a real life drama by helping illustrate that 'evidenced based' drug policies and the 'legalize-then-prescribe' approach to drug use/abuse issues can and should be implemented to help save lives. Sadly our federal politicians have refused to place the issue of drug use and drug addiction within a health and wellness perspective and have chosen instead to ignore science based and harm reduction approaches by continuing to embrace failed drug prohibition. The Omnibus Bill, with its tough-on-crime agenda, passed this year introducing mandatory minimum sentencing and employed ideology over ideas, coercion over compassion and punishment over rehabilitation. The federal government continues to invent the facts to justify failed drug policies rather than creating drug policies based on the facts. The fact is, by keeping some drugs illegal, lawmakers are ensuring that drug dealers decide the level of purity and the size of the dose. Drug addicts will continue to suffer the consequences of this failed approach. The tragedy is our current federal government seems to think drug addicts are expendable, using them like pawns to further a failed drug program. Judith and Paul Renaud, Educators for Sensible, Drug Policy, Gibsons - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom