THE DRUG TRADE HAS TO BE STOPPED AT ITS SOURCE

Every year, thousands of hectares in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Colombia and
dozens of other countries yield millions of pounds of hard drugs, i.e.
cocaine and heroin (U.S. attack on drug laws angers top B.C. judge, March
4). No matter how many dealers are arrested, incarcerated or deported; no
matter how many users are incarcerated, deported, committed, treated or
cremated; and no matter how tough or compassionate laws become, there will
never be any difference until the supply is shut down at its source.

I fail to understand why this is not the main topic of conversation when we
discuss the problem of hard drug use. It is as if we have an elephant in the
living room, but all we can do is discuss the optimal pooper-scooper.

In a nutshell, certain Third World countries are the suppliers and we, the
First World, particularly North America, are the consumers. The supply will
always be there, no matter how many 11-year-old Hondurans we deport, and the
suppliers will always find a way to get it to us.

Many countries that host large-scale grow operations suffer crippling
poverty, and I would guess that their governments are complicit in, and
profit from, the illegal trade. The traffic in illicit drugs scarcely
benefits the populace of those countries and may even be to their detriment
because of the loss of food crops and natural vegetation.

So, I have a request for Americans. Instead of telling us in Canada that we
are not scooping fast enough, go to the G-7 and make a plan. Talk economic
sanctions. Talk military intervention. Talk funding to encourage growers to
grow crops that benefit them directly, i.e. food. Or are they afraid to
upset the delicate balance of corruption, kickbacks and back-room deals?
Perhaps that's why they are so busy shooting the messengers.

Natalie Anne Lanoville
Vancouver