IS THE LEGALIZATION OF DRUGS THE ANSWER?

To the editor;

Your article "A Personal Story: Leaving crystal meth behind" dated
Monday, November 13, 2006 encouraged me to write.

I am a retired law enforcement officer and a legal cannabis patient
here in Canada.

I am always concerned when I hear of children being exposed to
addictive and deadly street drugs such as Tim and methamphetamines
mentioned in your article above.

Drugs have been in the world since the beginning of time and will
never go away.

Studies all over the World prove this. "The Facts About Drug Abuse" -
1980 - U.S. from The Drug Abuse Council clearly states "Psychoactive
substances have been available throughout recorded History and will
remain so. To try to eliminate them completely is unrealistic."

I am one of the many people in our country who is suffering due to the
country's present illegal drug regime. Not because of the excruciating
pain I have in my face twenty four hours a day associated with
multiple sclerosis, nor because of the other connected health problems
I suffer from thanks to battling MS.

No, I am suffering because I have no legal source of cannabis at my
disposal and that other more deadly addictive drugs are easier to
access than the benign and almost non-toxic substance known to man,
cannabis sativa.

If all drugs were regulated our youth and our vulnerability would not
be exposed to this rapidly flourishing underground market and things
would be much different.

As a well known Canadian Speaker for one of the most honorable and
well-respected organizations in the world known as LEAP - Law
Enforcement Against Prohibition (www.leap.cc) I have learned much from
my superiors.

If, and when as a country we legalize and regulate all drugs our
children and our streets would no longer be in control.

What better way than this to protect our most vulnerable human beings
- - our children, our addicted and our ill.

Alison Myrden

Retired Law Enforcement

Law Enforcement Against Prohibition

Burlington, Ontario