Letters to the Editor

Drug lords like status quo

To the editor: The money our government spends in fighting the war on drugs
is an investment in the status quo.

It makes too much sense to legalize drugs and leave the decision of use to
personal morality. At least that way, we could break the back of the
illegal drug trade, gain badly needed tax money and have plenty left over
to help addicts clean up their lives.

Not to condone drug use, this expedience would save hundreds of millions of
dollars currently wasted fighting a war that cannot be won. With an
estimated $500 billion per year, drugs are the second largest business in
the world, surpassed only by military spending at $800 billion. This has
made drug lords the wealthiest people on the planet.

But perhaps we are naive to believe these criminals would allow drugs to be
legalized. With the drug cartel's money comes power power to buy
politicians, police, and jailers in most all parts of the world.

Yes, and in Canada too! With such a vested interest in maintaining the
status quo, it is doubtful if our government could legalize the trade even
if we want it to.

Josiah Rise Medstead, Sask.
Via the Internet