Pubdate: Sat, 19 Aug 2006
Source: Nanaimo News Bulletin (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006, BC Newspaper Group
Contact:  http://www.nanaimobulletin.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/948
Author: Kenneth Tupper

CANADA'S DRUG POLICY SADLY OUTDATED

To the Editor,

Re: Drug roundup a welcome sight, Editorial, Aug. 15.

Your editorial tip of the hat to the RCMP for rounding up drug 
dealers in Nanaimo is a sad endorsement for demonstrably failed public policy.

For the past 100 years, we've primarily taken a criminal justice 
approach to addressing the reality of human drug use.

The results? Greater availability of illegal drugs (especially to 
youth), profligate spending on police, courts, and prisons, 
widespread organized crime in the illegal drug trade, and 
destabilized political regimes in countries such as Colombia and Afghanistan.

The failure of the U.S.-led "war on (some) drugs" shows most clearly 
how supply-side interventions such as dealer crackdowns do nothing to 
address the harms from drug use.

The efforts of the RCMP to rid Nanaimo of illegal drugs will come to naught.

It's time to reject the failed policies of prohibition and follow the 
advice of the Health Officers Council of B.C. in taking a public 
health approach to drugs: regulate, tax and control.

Kenneth Tupper,

Vancouver
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman