Pubdate: Tue, 02 Oct 2007
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2007 Times Colonist
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: Victoria Kirby

WAR ON DRUGS COSTLY, INEFFECTIVE

Opened my newspapers and read about the Conservative government's 
plan to get tough on "drugs."

What about the government-sanctioned drugs: Alcohol, tobacco and 
gambling? With the exception of tobacco, the provincial government is 
pushing these at an ever more alarming rate -- witness the hundreds 
of new privatized liquor outlets and gambling casinos opening and expanding.

Then I read the front-page report that Vancouver Island police 
departments are facing the worst staffing crunch in memory, as is the 
RCMP. So how will the government deal with its American-style war on 
drugs when resources are already stretched so thin?

When Health Minister Tony Clement says there are no "safe drugs," it 
sounds very hypocritical since some are already government-sanctioned.

We'd be better off with money spent on education, prevention and 
therapy. Otherwise government is handing the "business" over to gangs 
and criminals.

Victoria Kirby,

Victoria.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman