STOP THESE NOTIONS OF LEGALIZATION

I tire of Russell Barth's continual letters to the editor regarding
the legalization of drugs. Anyone who has spent time with a true
addict would never advocate the legalization of these drugs. Treatment
and harm reduction are needed in addition to enforcement. What do you
think is going to happen? Drugs are made legal and the dealers are
going to go to school and suddenly get jobs? Whether a half-gram of
cocaine costs $35 on the black market or $10 in the store, addicts
will use crime to get that money since they are incapable of holding a
job. What happens to apartment buildings and neighbourhoods when
addicted residents are too hooked on their legal drugs to look after
their kids, pets and property? As we are mandated by the UN to have a
drug enforcement strategy, I suggest we stop these notions of
legalization and start looking at keeping these dealers in jail longer.

Glen Klose

(The war on drugs is futile, and so is ramping it up.)