LEGALIZING DRUGS WON'T WORK

Re: Regulate drugs the same as alcohol, Saturday, March 17, The NOW.

First, I would like to address the war on drugs. I believe the Americans
have a war on drugs. At best Canada has put up a weak struggle. British
Columbia has all but given up, or so it would seem.

We would be fools to believe there is such a simplistic solution to such a
complex problem. To legalize all drugs would not remove the criminal
element. If the Canadian government wished to produce and sell drugs,
organized crime would still be doing business as usual.

For example, if Canada were to legalize marijuana, it would not eliminate
the large-scale marijuana grow operations in our neighbourhoods. The
majority of the product is heading south - the U.S. is a huge market. Only
a small percentage of what is grown in Canada is for local markets.

Criminal organizations and independent dealers will continue to torment
their neighbours by operating in our neighbourhoods. These drug houses in
turn will be ripped off by rival gangs and other crooks and will
occasionally burn down. This will destroy the fabric of our communities.

I have no opinion on marijuana for medical purposes or small possession for
personal use. However, in this day of the anti-tobacco movement and the
effort spent to keep kids from smoking, what kind of message would we send
by legalizing any recreational drug?

Will this lead to a higher usage by society, and if so will automotive
accidents involving drivers under the influence of drugs increase? Are we
willing to give roadside blood samples to the police in order to test for
drugs?

Is it just me or do many of the pot-smoking protesters that we see on TV
appear to be under the age of 19 years? I see kids who look 14 to 16 years
old smoking at these hemp rallies. Do they seriously believe that if drugs
were to be legalized that the government would set the legal age under the
19 years currently required to drink alcohol?

As for legalizing hard drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and many of the now
popular designer drugs available at local rave parties, I think people
should talk to those on our skid row. Although I'm sure they would love
free or inexpensive drugs to maintain their habits, many would discourage
anyone from ever trying these drugs and regret the day they did.

People from all social backgrounds become addicted to drugs every year and
some will lose their jobs, loved ones and even their own lives for the drug.

It's an addiction I believe society should not encourage. At the same time,
I feel we have failed to support those who have fallen victim to these and
other drugs. There is a great need for detox facilities and our government
has failed to deliver on many of its promises.

With regards to immediately releasing all those convicted of non-violent
drug offences, these individuals chose to break the law. If a dealer sells
the product to an undercover officer and is caught, he is just as guilty as
his supplier who may have been heavy-handed with some of his clients in
order to assure total loyalty through intimidation and violence. Many
choose to make quick, easy, tax-free money over working long hard hours the
rest of us in society work. We pay high taxes to keep money flowing for
such things as health care and education. I doubt that drug dealers declare
their income to Revenue Canada and pay their share.

Mike Linde, Coquitlam