Pubdate: Fri, 15 Feb 2002
Source: Whistler Question (CN BC)
Copyright: 2002, Whistler Printing & Publishing Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.whistlerquestion.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1034
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n218/a07.html

HEAVY-HANDED DRUG POLICY NEEDS REVISION

Dear Editor,

I very much enjoyed reading your Feb. 7 editorial ("Barring Rebagliati 
flies in face of justice"). Barring Canadian Olympic snowboarding gold 
medalist Ross Rebagliati from visiting Salt Lake City because he once 
admitted smoking pot is heavy-handed to say the least.

The United States, former land of the free and current record holder in 
citizens incarcerated, could learn a lot from Canada's more tempered 
approach to drugs.

Mexican Foreign Minister Jorge Castaneda has long been a critic of U.S. 
drug policies modeled after alcohol prohibition. In a September 1999 
Newsweek column, Castaneda asked, "What is the purpose of investing 
hundreds of millions of dollars in the fight against drugs, plunging 
countries into civil war, strengthening guerrilla groups and unleashing 
enormous violence and corruption upon entire societies, if American leaders 
can simply brush off questions about drug use in their youth?" Castaneda' 
views may be influencing Mexican President Vincente Fox. Last March, Presi 
dent Fox caused quite a stir by agreeing with a top Mexican police official 
that regulation may be the only way to resolve the drug problem.

Robert Sharpe, Program Officer, Drug Policy Alliance, Washington, D.C.
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