Pubdate: Fri, 13 Jan 2017
Source: Kamloops This Week (CN BC)
Copyright: 2017 Kamloops This Week
Contact:  http://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1271
Page: A9
Author: John Rimmell

IN WAKE OF OPIOID CRISIS, REGULATE DRUGS

Editor:

I think the development of more powerful street drugs (i.e. fentanyl,
meth, etc.) of course is driven by the profits available for cheaper more
powerful lethal drugs. I think it may be time to look at legalizing drugs
so we can better control them.

Drugs at one time in world history were legal and the use of them was far
less widespread. Coca Cola at one time contained cocaine (hence the name
coke).

The consumption of alcohol during Prohibition was far more widespread than
when it was legal. There were many deaths from badly produced by
unregulated producers of alcohol or antifreeze-laced cocktails. The growth
of gangland crime and political corruption was rampant.

Maybe an open-minded approach is necessary to solve the drug problems of
the Western world.

Between fentanyl deaths, brain-dead meth users and gangland slayings in
protecting territory, the scourge on our society may be of our own doing.

How much do we spend on policing, incarceration and overloaded courts
systems, while the drug cartels make more than Canada's gross national
product?

I may sound weird to think this could ever happen, seeing how long it is
taking to legalize what grows naturally. I don't doubt drug money can
grease a lot of political wheels to keep things illegal.

John Rimmell

Kamloops
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