Paterson is saying out loud what many of us have been saying for some
time without being heard. In this column she has put the whole
question of drug use and prohibition in focus.

If drugs were legal and given to addicts, the crime rate would be
drastically reduced. Softer drugs like marijuana could be sold out of
licenced outlets as is done in other jurisdictions. The quality of
drugs could be controlled and the likelihood of overdose or other
complications would be minimized.

The costs of our penal system, our legal system and our medical system
would also be greatly decreased if drugs were legalized. It seems to
me that this would be a good thing all round. I wonder how much longer
it will take for the powers that be to get the message and act.

Perhaps the time will be a little shorter because of Jody's
column.

W. Robert Arnold,
Victoria