The scourge of drug abuse is an ongoing problem.

Regardless of how determined we are to wipe it out, it persists by
defying us. Because we have been conditioned to believe that people
will conform from fear of punishment rather than relaxing the law we
are faced with a reaction of resentment intended to control their
private life style.

The desire to break from the status-quo is understandable, as many of
the arcane laws are made to serve a select number by restricting the
majority. Thus the elite are protected from immoral or unethical
behavior, not being exposed by the media, which they indirectly control.

Because many of us (the younger generation in particular) become
resentful, objecting to the traditional old ways, it only exacerbates
the problem by being confrontational. The old theory of fight or flee
has not as yet died. But it is weakening.

It is understandable how many believe the only way to cure a sickness
is literally to operate - cut it out. If there is no compliance or
support with a rule or law by the majority, it fails on its own.

The drug trade will remain a lucrative business as long as we treat it
as a crime. Allow drugs to be easy to obtain and they lose their
value, both to the producer as well as the would be consumer.

What is our government doing in the alcohol and tobacco
business.

They also get their cut from addiction. Is this not a conflict of
interest?

If it's illegal to grow pot, then it ought to be illegal to sell booze
and smokes.

But profit comes first - no pot profit, ban as it as
illegal.

The point I wish to make is, that in making laws that deny the
individual to treat himself or herself in an abusive way will not cure
them even if they are thrown in jail. Punishment is no deterrent, and
never will be. We are all to some degree responsible to one another.

Making judgments of someone who failed to live up to the norm is a
lose-lose game. We can extinguish the life of a murderer but not the
feelings that made him lose control.

Drug addicts are only a threat when they don't have the money to get
their fix. Give them all the drugs they need. They'll do one of two
things - quit or overdose.

But stop fighting them.

Colin Mayes
Union Bay