BANNING DRUGS

Your article on the G8 summit meeting (May 18) contained a quote from French
President Jacques Chirac: "None of the countries can take the risk of
removing prohibitions against drugs. In the interest of our youth, we must
reaffirm them."

Mr Chirac displays his ignorance of the facts. Everywhere cannabis laws
have been liberalised, including The Netherlands and several States in
Australia and the United States, drug-related problems have remained steady
or decreased.

Moreover, criminalising young people for experimenting with the wrong drugs
(primarily cannabis) while purposely creating profitable black markets that
inevitably prey on schoolchildren is about as much in the interest of our
youth as the continued testing of nuclear weapons.

Of course, Mr Chirac thought that was a good idea, too.

DAVID HADORN

Checked-by: Melodi Cornett