Pubdate: Tue, 14 Oct 2008 Source: North Island Gazette (CN BC) Copyright: 2008 Black Press Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/Wy0dnBlK Website: http://www.northislandgazette.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2783 Author: Ben Perlini LEGALIZING POT IS A BETTER ANSWER Dear editor, To control the drug dealers and all the illegal activity that goes along with the drug trade, the government must control all the drugs and activity that goes along with it. As a society, we will never, and I repeat never, stop illegal drugs and its use. So instead of wasting time, money, lives and misspent taxes, let's legalize and control them like any other government run drug and alcohol products. Think back in history, to the days of prohibition. The government and the people (public) tried to get rid of all the alcohol, drugs and prostitution. The only thing that this created was more highly organized crime. All that effort did not stop the flow or activity of alcohol, drugs, gambling and prostitution. So, after a never-ending battle against prohibition, the government decided then to control and legalize gambling, certain drugs, alcohol and certain places for prostitution. Today, gambling, alcohol, certain drugs and pornography creates billions and billions of dollars of money. It creates decent jobs and so on, and it is completely controlled by the government. Just imagine, all the tax dollars the government would collect and the new programs and hospitals it could create. Endless possibilities. Another thing to remember, if the government legalized these things, they would create a safer sex trade industry and purer drugs without poisoned additives. Society does not accept the overindulgence of drugs or alcohol, so society itself would be looking at people who abuse the new legalized stuff. The government must remember we're not a communist country, free trade and new business should flourish. The drug trade, and prostitution is not going nowhere. Not now, or ever. It is only getting more controlled by the gangsters. And when the gangsters control it the laws are different. That's a fact and accept it. Like it or not. So if we can't beat them, control them. And to do that, the government must take complete control and control them. By doing this, the government must handle it with extreme caution, but the law will adapt. So, let's legalize certain drugs and prostitution and treat them like any other controlled government substance and move forward in the war against drugs and prostitution. Just watch and see how much money, taxes and jobs this will create in the long run. Remember, alcohol is a drug and the government makes money and promotes it, as it does with smokes. Legalizing these drugs isn't going to turn people into drug addicts. Instead, perhaps teach people the negative effects of alcohol and drugs. Ben Perlini Port Hardy - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin