Jim Miles and Colin Mangham attempt to shift the debate away from the
most important issue, basic human rights (Taking drugs is a choice --
a bad one, Letters, Sept. 14). Whether drug use is good or bad for the
individual concerned has no relevance when questions of "crime" are
asked. Can a person commit a "crime" by doing themselves harm
(drinking, smoking, overeating)? Shall we arrest and force into
treatment the 10 to 15 per cent of alcohol users who are addicts, or
the 90 per cent of tobacco users?

Mr. Miles and Mr. Mangham, of course, have an interest in maintaining
the status quo because prohibition is an efficient way of maximizing
harm, thus feeding the drug "treatment" industry, which has shamefully
poor rates of success. Isn't it about time the government stopped
telling us what we can ingest and focus on real crime?

Jason Lalancette,
Saanich