Pubdate: Thu, 22 Nov 2001
Source: Evening Post (New Zealand)
Copyright: Wellington Newspapers (2001) Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.evpost.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/142
Author: Stephen McIntyre

THE HIGH COST OF PROHIBITON

THE statement by the chairman of Sweden's National Association for a Drug 
Free Society, Ove Rosengren, that strict prohibition there has been 
"effective" in cutting cannabis use (The Post, Nov 8) fails to indicate at 
what cost this has happened.

In monetary terms alone, the Swedish Hassela programme for compulsory drug 
treatment costs more than $NZ100,000 a person a year.

With more than 50 New Zealanders arrested daily for cannabis, this system 
of "coercive care" would set taxpayers back at least $1.5 billion annually. 
Furthermore, Swedish police now have the power to force people to undertake 
blood or urine tests for drugs on the flimsiest of pretexts. Documented 
cases include Swedes taken in for nothing more than smiling too much in 
public and dancing too energetically at a club.

Drug use figures in Sweden rose immediately after funding for 
"zero-tolerance" programmes was cut back.

The conclusion is that a system of prohibition which realises and maintains 
lowered cannabis use costs an absolute fortune and cannot be let up for a 
moment.

STEPHEN McINTYRE
Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart