CHANGE WAYS TO COMBAT DRUGS

Who is benefitting the most in Canada's war on drugs? Well it certainly is
not Canadian families, their children, or society in general.

Why has the drug problem increased in every city, town and village in
Canada? Why has the problem gotten worse and keeps on getting worse? Almost
certainly because we are doing something really wrong.

Why aren't we changing our ways of combatting the drug problem? Almost
certainly because, besides corrupt or uncaring politicians, corrupt or
uncaring officials, money-launderers, high-level business importers,
mid-level distributors and low-level street sellers, there are other
powerful sectors of society that benefit very handsomely from the war on drugs.

They are: police, Customs, the justice department, prison systems, publicly
supported lawyers, the social welfare department and the enormous web of
services related to and benefitting from the present drug situation. They
may mean well, but the fact is they have an interest in maintaining the
status quo. These public sector beneficiaries have all greatly increased
their share of the public purse at the expense of basic services. In fact,
the amount of money expended on the war on drugs and related social
services would probably fix the Vancouver transit system, rebuild our
highways and health system and provided free tuition for all B.C. college
and university students.

To make our cities, towns and villages and our children safe again, we must
medicinalize hard drugs and thereby decriminalize the addict. We must
provide drugs of choice available through legitimate channels in every
community to those addicted. The drugs should be prescribed by a physician
and made available in safe clinics where the drug of choice is
administered. By decriminalizing the addict, that person does not have to
resort to crime and prostitution to provide for their habit. This would
greatly reduce crime rates at all levels.

The incentive to import drugs into Canada would become almost non-existent,
the result being a great reduction in high-level crime and money
laundering. Medicinalizing drugs will force the drug cartels to seek other
markets in other countries. Medicinalizing drugs means safer communities
for Canadian families. It means that down the road, government funding can
be reduced in these areas and redirected to health, education and
infrastructure.

What about marijuana? Like tobacco, marijuana is a filthy, stinking,
health-destroying habit that is pervasive and available everywhere,
including in our schools. Both tobacco and marijuana should be available
on demand at certain outlets on showing ID, provided by a special
health-insurance policy provider, paid for by tobacco and marijuana producers.

Will our way of dealing with drugs ever change? It could if you elect MLAs
who have foresight and are willing to try something different, something
compassionate, something sensible. Talk to your candidates who are going
to run for office. Will the federal government ever do something about
this problem? Ask your just-elected member.

James T. Moore Oliver