Pubdate: Sun, 22 Nov 2015
Source: Sunday Herald, The (UK)
Copyright: 2015 Sunday Herald
Contact:  http://www.sundayherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/873
Author: Robert Sharpe
Page: 39
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v15/n653/a01.html

SWISS LEAD WAY ON DRUGS POLICY

REGARDING the commentary by Howard Wooldridge, there is a middle
ground between drug prohibition and blanket legalisation (The lives
and trillions of dollars sacrificed on the altar of futile modern
prohibition, Comment, November 15). Switzerland's heroin maintenance
programme has been shown to reduce disease, death and crime by
providing addicts with standardised doses in a clinical setting. Its
success has inspired heroin maintenance pilot projects in Canada,
Germany, Spain, Denmark and the Netherlands.

Expanding prescription heroin maintenance would deprive organised
crime of a core client base. This would render illegal heroin
trafficking unprofitable and spare future generations addiction.
Cannabis should be taxed and regulated like alcohol, only without the
advertising. As long as criminals control cannabis distribution,
consumers will come into contact with sellers of hard drugs. Cannabis
prohibition is a gateway drug policy.

Robert Sharpe, MPA Policy analyst Common Sense for Drug Policy
Washington, DC
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MAP posted-by: Matt