OLD FREAKS SAD AS DRUG SITUATION BECOMES TRAGEDY

Re: Portugal's experience shows decriminalization can work, Peter
McKnight, April 18

For many, cannabis was all part of expanding the doors of perception
that went along with the hippie movement. For me, although peace,
love and understanding still seem like valid ideals, the
preoccupation with psychedelia started to become a little stale by
the mid-'70s and faded away to a happy memory along with my platform shoes.

The majority of us old freaks are saddened, however, to see that
misunderstanding, mismanagement and gigantic profit margins have
turned the drug situation into the tragedy it is today. Current
events show us that the "war on drugs" is a harmful and hypocritical
policy that failed a long time ago. Illicit drugs should be
controlled by the government, not the gangsters.

Surely with the largest return on investment on the planet, the
current drug/crime synergy will continue to spiral out of control
unless we break through the Mobius strip with intelligent new ideas.
The excellent story by Peter McKnight on the success that Portugal
has had with its more informed approach gives us hope that a new era
is possible.

Einstein described insanity as doing the same thing over and over
again and expecting different results. It's time for a change.

Peace.

Craig McCaw

Vancouver