Pubdate: Sat, 14 Aug 2010 Source: National Post (Canada) Copyright: 2010 Canwest Publishing Inc. Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/O3vnWIvC Website: http://www.nationalpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286 Author: Wayne Phillips Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n648/a06 BACKWARD APPROACH TO CRIME Re: Legalizing Drugs 'Absurd,' Calderon Says, Aug. 11. Mexican President Felipe Calderon, is right: calls to legalize drugs in Mexico as a way to counter the gang violence in Mexico are absurd because, as he says, it would only work if drugs (specifically marijuana) were legalized either globally, or at least in the United States. A comprehensive study released by the International Centre for Science in Drug Policy exposes an extensive correlation between drug law enforcement efforts and increased drug-related crime, homicide and gun violence. It demonstrates commonalities between violence and the illicit drug trade in relation to the impacts drug law enforcement has, as intervention, on drug market violence. Wayne Phillips, communication director, Educators For Sensible Drug Policy, Hamilton, Ont. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom