GET-TOUGH STRATEGY WON'T STAMP OUT DRUG USE

According to a recent ASN-TV poll, 54 per cent of respondents agree with
decriminalizing marijuana. I think this might be the first time a majority
has favoured such a move, and I think it's about time, because this
get-tough attitude hasn't done a thing to solve the drug problem.

People may make bad choices which lead to drug addiction but no one chooses
to be an addict. Once addicted, for whatever reason, some of these people
may never break away from this chemical dependency. Then, in order to
finance their addictions, most have two choices: steal or traffic, which
leads to burglaries, armed robberies, and the pushing of drugs in the
schools.

Oh, yes, in this case the government can't even brag about taxing or suing
the industry out of existence. Fines levied against drug traffickers are
paid by selling more drugs, just as the tobacco industry pays its fines and
taxes by selling more tobacco.

Roy Goodland, Goulds