DEBATING THE MERITS OF THE CONSERVATIVES' CRIME REDUCTION PLAN

Re: War on crime and drugs more hopeful than realistic, by Peter McKnight,
Oct. 15

When it comes to drugs, mandatory minimum prison sentences are proven
failures. If harsh sentences deterred illicit drug use, Canada's southern
neighbour would be a drug-free America. That's not the case. The U.S. drug
war has done little, other give the former land of the free the highest
incarceration rate in the world. Drug prohibition finances organized crime
at home and terrorism abroad, which is then used to justify increased
drug-war spending. It's time to end this madness and instead treat all
substance abuse, legal or otherwise, as the public health problem it is.
Drug abuse is bad, but the drug war is worse.

Robert Sharpe, MPA

Policy Analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, D.C.