Pubdate: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC) Copyright: 2002 Times Colonist Contact: http://www.canada.com/victoria/timescolonist/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481 Author: Chuck Beyer Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?203 (Terrorism) TERRORISM BREEDS BANS AND VICE VERSA The RCMP is using a very illogical argument in regards to the relationship between presently illegal drugs and terrorism. It is prohibition that finances terrorism -- not drugs. It should be noted that terrorists are not opening liquor stores, pharmacies or corner groceries to finance terrorism. Drugs were not funding terrorism before Prohibition, and today legal drugs do not finance terrorism. It is estimated that only around five per cent of illegal drugs are interdicted. Even if we built 10 times as many prisons and filled them with drug users there would still be 50 per cent reaching the market. Until now, people who did not use drugs could ignore the war being waged by the government against 10 per cent of the population. But now that terrorism is in the spotlight, everyone can be a victim of prohibition. Voters should ask politicians : "Do you support drug prohibition because it finances criminals at home or because it finances terrorists abroad?" Chuck Beyer, B.C. Marijuana Party, Victoria. - --- MAP posted-by: Alex