SENATOR URGES SALE OF HEROIN, COCAINE IN LIQUOR STORES

'We've Lost War On Drugs'

VANCOUVER - In one of the stranger moments at the Senate Special Committee
on Illegal Drugs, Senator Ed Lawson told his colleagues it is time the
government started selling heroin and cocaine.

Mr. Lawson said the drugs could be sold over special counters at liquor stores.

"I'd be willing to give it a try," said the flamboyant Senator.

There was not so much as a whisper of dissent from the committee, which is
travelling across Canada with the responsibility of helping the government
formulate a new policy on illegal drugs.

It may be that by the time Mr. Lawson spoke yesterday morning, the
committee members were already numb to his comments.

Earlier, he had called on the government to legalize marijuana, saying it
is a billion-dollar industry in British Columbia.

"We've lost the war on drugs," he declared.

It fell to Philip Owen, the Mayor of Vancouver, to disagree with the
Senator. "I don't think we've lost it," he said politely.

Mr. Owen said a separate public debate could take place regarding marijuana
laws, but legalizing such hard drugs as heroin and cocaine is not a
reasonable proposal.

The Mayor outlined how Vancouver has been battling a drug crisis that
exploded in the Downtown Eastside a decade ago.

For the past five years, Mr. Owen has spearheaded a multi-faceted project
that is more far-reaching than anything in North America.

Government, health, social service and police officials have teamed up on
the project. During the next few months, four new treatment facilities will
open. Safe injection sites have been widely discussed and may soon be
tested. There have been hundreds of community meetings to keep the public
educated and informed. There are drug awareness programs underway in city
schools.

Asked about Mr. Lawson's liberal approach to drug use, Mr. Wilson shook his
head in disagreement.

"Users found with small amounts should not be prosecuted," he said. "But I
don't see it being sold in liquor stores.

"And you keep going after the narco-traffickers. We've got to stop that.
Narco-traffickers corrupt countries."