PROHIBITION HAS NEVER WORKED

Re: Billionaire gives $1M in fight to legalize pot, Oct. 27

Recognition and applause needs to be given to George Soros as well as
the other supporters and sponsors of Proposition 19 in California.
Although their motives might not be as philanthropic as they would
have us believe, changes need to be made.

The fallacy that is the "war on drugs" is costing the American
taxpayer $40 billion per year while having little to no effect. In
addition, $14 billion is spent annually to house non-violent drug
offenders, who make up 20-25 per cent of the total, already
overcrowded prison population.

Past experience has shown that prohibition simply does not work. The
legalization and taxation of cannabis would drop crime rates
dramatically while taking in countless billions of dollars in tax
revenue. In 2009 alone, the U.S. government collected more than $20
billion in taxes from alcohol, tobacco, firearms and ammunition.

Benjamin Attard,

Cameron, Ont.