BASE DRUG SENTENCES ON CONDUCT, EXPERT SAYS

Children, Guns Key

Lengthy prison sentences should be used on the worst drug dealers --
the ones who use children or guns to deal drugs --and should not be
based mainly on the quantity being sold, says a U.S. expert on drug
control policy.

"You want drug sentences to be based not merely on the drug that's
being sold and the quantity, which is the fundamental basis for most
drug sentencing both in the U.S. and in Canada, but on the conduct of
the drug seller," said Mark Kleiman, who directs the drug policy
analysis pro-gram at UCLA School of Public Affairs. He spoke
yesterday to 950 delegates at the Issues of Substance conference in Edmonton.

"You want to create competitive disadvantage for the most obnoxious
dealing styles and unfortunately, routine drug law enforcement
creates competitive advantage for the most obnoxious dealing styles.
If I am the most violent drug dealer in town, no one wants to be a
witness against me, so reputation for violence actually protects me
against law enforcement ... you have to reverse those incentives."

Simply putting more dealers behind bars will not decrease the amount
of drugs on the street, Mr. Kleiman said. Instead, the goal should be
to reduce the amount of damage being done in a neighbourhood through
break-ins, violence or targeting young people.

Most people drink alcohol or smoke marijuana without doing harm, he
said, arguing that governments should legalize the personal use of
some drugs while forbidding the sale.