NGOs DEBATE DRUG TRADE

Non-government organizations are crafting drug policy because
governments have abdicated responsibility on the issue, according to
delegates attending an international drug conference in Vancouver yesterday.

Beyond 2008, a two-day conference at the Morris J. Wosk Centre for
Dialogue, is a part of worldwide consultations on the progress of a
1998 United Nations pledge to eradicate illicit drug demand and
cultivation within 10 years, a pledge that delegates agreed is
woefully unfulfilled.

However, what was billed as a dialogue descended into debate as the
simmering tensions that underlie drug policy were quickly exposed by
bickering between delegates of opposing views.

"Legalization fuels availability and availability fuels use," said
Kevin Sabet of Project: SUNDIAL, an organization that endorses the
current law-and-order approach.

Sanho Tree of the Institute for Policy Studies disagreed.

"Prohibition economics is just a political program, but looking tough
does not get results. Looking tough just inflates the value of drugs."