DIFFICULT TO STOP WAR ON DRUGS WITHOUT ANGERING U.S. POLITICIANS

Dear Editor:

Being a high school student, I don't have the most educated view of
politics, but I find myself with an opinion all the same. Especially
on the marijuana issue that concerns our present government.

Considering the fact that I am a born and raised Kootenay child, the
debate on whether or not to legalize pot is something that I hear a
lot about. When I think about legalizing it, several things come to
mind: our economy versus the growers and dealers, health and law
enforcement issues, to name but a few.

On the one hand, our economy is dangerously dependent on the lumber
industry, and legalizing pot could provide B.C. with a thriving
alternative, the hemp industry. However, the growers of pot would
see taxes take an increasing share of their profits. After that, I
think the U.S. now that Bush is president, the war on drugs and
everything else that is "morally unacceptable" is going to be stepped
up. Now add the little factor of Canada legalizing marijuana. Not
the best idea if we want to stay on good terms with the U.S.

I think it's obvious that steps toward decriminalization, no matter
how small, are necessary and inevitable. Marijuana is helpful for
people with glaucoma, it alleviates some of the unpleasant side
effects of chemotherapy and is proven beneficial to AIDS sufferers.

There is mounting evidence that drug dependency and drug abuse are
medical conditions, not criminal ones. The money being used on the
"drug war" could be much better used in prevention and education
rather than filling up our jails with so-called criminals.

The drug war is now in its sixth decade and drug use has done nothing
but increase.

Many governments in Europe have already seen the futility in the
"drug war" approach and statistics show that the decriminalization of
drug use does not increase it.

I think Canada is much closer to accepting this reality than the
U.S., however it will be very difficult to make these changes unless
the U.S. starts to make them as well.

However, the changes must be made and it is up to us to decide that
the economic penalties of acting alone far outweigh the consequences
of continuing the ineffective "war on drugs".

Liv Lundh
Kaslo