DRUGS ARE ILLEGAL

Why Give Out Needles?

An editoral on May 27 said, "The need for a fixed needle exchange in
Victoria is clear to everyone involved -- the Vancouver Island Health
Authority, the city, social agencies." There is at least one more
party involved, the taxpayers who have to foot the bill, and it's
certainly not clear to this taxpayer.

There is a law against drug use, and taxpayers pay a lot of money to
enforce that law. Now those same taxpayers are being asked to pay for
the breaking of that law.

Given my druthers, I'd rather see drugs legalized and/or places
provided where addicts could line up to get injections then go away
until the next time.

But if politicians are not willing to do that, then at least they
shouldn't use our taxes to subsidize lawbreaking.

Ian Cameron

Victoria