NEW APPROACH ON DRUGS NEEDED

"The definition of stupidity is doing the same thing over and over
again and expecting different results." Albert Einstein

The recent introduction of Bill C-26 by the Harper Conservative
government, which provides mandatory minimum sentences for marijuana
cultivation and trafficking, is a classic illustration of Einstein's
"Definition of Stupidity". Despite the ongoing "War on Drugs",
mandatory sentencing, and millions of dollars spent trying to
eliminate the drug trade; we continue to have the same results. Bad
guys get rich and the taxpayer gets stuck with the bill.

Conservative think tank organizations like the Rand Corporation and
the Fraser Institute have concluded that mandatory minimum sentences
and prohibition are policies destined to fail. Growers and
distributors reap the benefits. The taxpayer sees only the costs.

It's time for a new approach and it's time to move beyond the old,
tired, failed policies that include getting tough on crime and
building bigger jails because of mandatory minimum sentences.

Stand up against Bill C-26 and its draconian approach that has proven
time and again to be ineffective.

Join us outside Gary Lunn's constituency office in Sidney on December
17 from noon to 1:30 p.m. to express your opposition to this waste of
tax dollars.

Kit Spence

Editor's note: Kit Spence is director of the local riding association,
but states he is doing this not for it, but because of his own
interest in drug policy and recent work in Afghanistan.