LEGAL DRUGS DEFEAT BAD GUYS

Re: Former police chief critical of Harper's drug move, April 6 - 12

Prime Minister Harper has chosen interesting partners in his quest to
show he is tough on crime and drugs. The real winners in this policy:
international terrorists, drug cartels and organized crime. They are
smiling ear to ear this morning, hearing about how Prime Minister
Harper is going to keep them in business. By keeping drugs-all
drugs-illegal, Prime Minister Harper is keeping the bad guys in the
management roles of manufacture, marketing and distribution.

A regulated marketplace takes this commodity away from these bad
guys. It rids the community of violence and crime and enables money
to be put towards rehabilitation. It reduces disease and ultimately, death.

If Prime Minister Harper wants a preview of what his call for tougher
policies will provide, just look south to America: we have the
largest prison system in the world. We imprison people at a higher
rate than every industrialized nation. What has it gotten us? Drugs
are more potent, more available and in most cases, they are cheaper
than ever before. Hmmm. Makes you wonder why he would want to follow
our examples, eh?

Mike Smithson, Camillus, New York