MONEY WASTED ON DRUGS

Editor, The News:

Re: B.C. losing war on drug gangs (B.C. Views, Jan. 14).

RCMP marijuana eradication efforts are no doubt well-intended, but
ultimately counterproductive.

The drug war's distortion of immutable laws of supply and demand
causes big money to grow on little trees.

Canadian tax dollars are wasted on anti-drug strategies that only make
marijuana growing more profitable.

In 2002, the Canadian Senate offered a common sense alternative to
prohibition when the Special Committee on Illegal Drugs concluded that
marijuana is relatively benign, marijuana prohibition contributes to
organized crime, and law enforcement efforts have little impact on
patterns of use.

Consider the experience of Canada's southern neighbor, the former land
of the free and current record holder in citizens incarcerated. Based
on findings that criminal records are inappropriate as health
interventions, a majority of European Union countries have
decriminalized marijuana.

Despite marijuana prohibition and perhaps because of forbidden fruit
appeal, lifetime use of marijuana is higher in the U.S. than any
European country.

The short-term health effects of marijuana are inconsequential
compared to the long-term effects of criminal records.

Canada should follow the lead of Europe and just say no to the
American inquisition.

Robert Sharpe, MPA

Policy Analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, D.C.