Pubdate: Mon, 17 Nov 2008
Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB)
Copyright: 2008 Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  http://www.edmontonsun.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135
Author: Marc Paquett
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n1029/a05.html
Note: Parenthetical remark by the Sun editor, headline by newshawk.

NOT EVERYONE ABUSES DRUGS

Like alcohol, not everyone abuses drugs, but for those who do, unlike
alcohol, the vast majority aren't a nuisance to others. Far more
crimes are committed by those who abuse alcohol! Before the
prohibition of any drugs in the early 1900s, 2% of the world's
population was abusing drugs, and under drug prohibition, this
percentage is exactly the same. What does it tell us? Would more
people do or abuse actual "illegal" drugs if they were all legal? I
wouldn't, and I suppose that most people who already made up their
minds about all kinds of drugs wouldn't either. Under legalization and
regulation, would our actual "illegal" drugs still be available to
kids in schoolyards -- or largely just to consenting adults? How
responsible towards all society are our governments under drug
prohibition? Sadly, most cops don't realize this. Unless Const. Glen
Klose (Letters, Nov. 13) and the majority of our Canadian cops prefer
that organized crime and violent street gangs control illegal drugs?

Marc Paquette

(Most cops I know just want to help people and bust bad guys.)
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin