LEGALIZING AND REGULATING DRUGS WILL SAVE US BILLIONS

Jon Ferry presents a false choice between drug legalization and
prevention. In reality, the choice is between prohibition and
prevention. Prohibition, or the enforcement of drug laws, takes up 73
per cent of anti-drug resources. Prevention, of which just say no is a
part, receives a meagre 2.6 per cent of those resources.

The prohibition of drugs isn't working. Indeed, drugs are more
available than ever and criminal organizations are making huge profits
by providing drugs to a willing population.

By legalizing and regulating drugs, we can save $2.3 billion every
year and increase tax revenues by billions of dollars.

That money can be used to provide massive increases in treatment and
prevention funding. At the same time, legalization would remove
primary revenue sources from organized criminal groups.

Legalizing drugs is not giving up. Legalization is about using
regulation, treatment, prevention and harm reduction to lower the harm
of drug abuse to individuals, communities and society.

Drugs like marijuana would be sold in liquor stores. Drugs like heroin
would be distributed by prescription.

Prohibition has failed. Let's deal with drugs using prevention,
treatment and regulation and leave police to focus on violent and
organized crime.

Jacob Hunter

Vancouver