TREAT DRUGS LIKE TOBACCO

Not too many years ago, the powers that be decided that the tobacco
habit was having a negative effect on society. So, in addition to
raising taxes on tobacco to punitive levels, smoking was forbidden in
various public places and severely discouraged in others.

Despite protests by innkeepers, restaurateurs, tobacco growers and
addicts, the policy held and was strengthened. Smokers today are far
fewer and making smoking difficult and "uncool" has obviously helped
cause this.

So now that society faces far more dangerous and disabling addictions
than tobacco, why are we departing from this successful policy of
making it hard to feed the dragon and instead prefer one of making it easier?

M.C. Hall-Patch

Victoria