WAR ON DRUGS HAS NO WINNERS

The only solution to the drug problem is to legalize marijuana and
decriminalize heroin and cocaine (Owen plans battle against drug
abuse, Dec. 7).

None of the "four pillars" concept promoted by Mayor Philip Owen and
other Canadian mayors will make any serious or practical dent on the
issue. Certainly prevention and treatment for thoses addicts who wish
or need it should always be available, as it is for alcoholics.
Deporting Hondurans and adding police to the streets are just the
usual feel-good notions put forward by politicians without the guts to
make any serious societal changes.

The U.S. government spends $17 billion a year on the so-called war on
drugs and Canada undoubtedly spends hundreds of milliions. This is a
monumental waste of taxpayers' money.

The current system of illegal drugs also makes criminals out of a
large percentage of average, middle-class taxpayers. Marijuana and
cocaine should be legal in small amounts for personal recreational
use, as is alcohol.

Eventually voters will realize this and insist that governments change
the law. The drug enforcement industry will not promote legalization
because a lot of them would lose their jobs. So societal change is
dependent on voters who do not want their money wasted and do not want
to be treated like a criminal every time they smoke a joint.

David Young
Vancouver