Pubdate: Sat, 21 Apr 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: Richard Moses Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n481/a08.html?19653 PROHIBITION DIDN'T WORK EITHER Re: "Police can't win drug battle," editorial, April 16. The editorial inspired a flicker of hope concerning this war that can't be won. If I were, again, a callow youth I would stand agog at the West's failure to realize -- again (it was tried with alcohol) -- that attempting to ban a high-demand commodity won't work. Continuing this misguided folly results in increased crime, unleashed greed, outrageous prices for the substance in question and hideously unsafe and out-of-control distribution and consumption. The statement that "efforts need to be on the demand side," is also folly. In a war that can't be won, trying to reduce demand is merely one of the battles that can't be won either. No; efforts need to be on the legalization and control side! Will no one of influence, including the Times Colonist, have the intestinal fortitude to come out and say it? Richard Moses Saltspring Island. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom