THE WAR ON DRUGS HAS FAILED (6 of 7)

This editorial missed the point the think-tank was making about the drug
war. Compare the drug war to Prohibition.

Did Prohibition succeed in making liquor unavailable? No. Did Prohibition
funnel money and power to the criminal underworld? Yes. Did Prohibition
result in violence as gangs fought with police and themselves? Yes. Did
Prohibition foster public corruption? Yes. Did Prohibition promote
disrespect for the law? Yes. When prohibition was repealed, did the rate of
alcoholism soar? No.

Now compare that to the war on drugs.

Has the war on drugs succeeded in making drugs unavailable? No. Has the
war on drugs funnelled money and power to the criminal underworld? Yes. Has
the war on drugs resulted in violence as gangs fight with police and
themselves? Yes. Has the war on drugs fostered public corruption? Yes. Has
the war on drugs promoted a disrespect for the law? Yes. If the war on
drugs is ended, will everyone become a drug addict? No!

The statistics from countries where drugs are treated more liberally
indicate that the war on drugs actually popularizes drug use by giving it a
rebellious chic.

It's not surrender to treat drugs as a health problem. It is common sense.

Of course, if you want to continue to spend millions of dollars to promote
drug use and public corruption, that's another story.

Ken Sailor, Saskatoon, Sask.