DRUG POLICY MUST BE CHANGED

This letter is in regards to the article entitled, Legality is poor
policy, by Randy White (The News, Dec. 22).

What Randy White fails to realize is that he and I want the same
things: reduced drug use, reduced abuse, reduced danger to users and
society, reduced criminal involvement, and reduced cost to taxpayers.

Where we differ is on which way to go about it.

By Mr. White's logic, we should hand alcohol back over to the
gangsters.

In my scenario, recreational drug users would generate billions in
annual tax revenue, much the way alcohol and tobacco users do today.

That revenue would pay for schools, hospitals, and rehab clinics for
the small percentage who develop problems with drugs. Kids would have
no access (they couldn't possibly have more access than they do now!),
gangsters would have no business, and anyone who sells drugs would be
subject to strict regulations, much like alcohol and tobacco vendors
today.

As proven with over 70 years of alcohol regulation, this policy would
reduce danger and crime, and implement quality controls.

In the Randy White scenario -- the prohibitionist method -- we'd have
to build more courts and jails, hire more cops and guards, and pay
more taxes. Why? So that people who let their morals cloud their view
of the facts can feel righteous about not letting other people use
certain drugs.

We all want to reduce the problems associated with drug use in our
society, but no matter how much people like Randy White believe or
have faith in prohibition, it simply will not work. And that isn't an
opinion, it is a solid, proven fact.

As for the invitation he was kind enough to include in his letter, I
don't have to go all the way to Vancouver to see failed drug policy.

I live in Ottawa where crack is only $3 a rock.

I guess he didn't notice that when he was working here for all those
years.

Russell Barth

Federal Medical Marijuana License Holder

Ottawa