LET'S NOT FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT WITH FAILED TACTICS

Peter Maresch has his facts on drug decriminalisation all mixed up.
Decriminalisation would significantly reduce the death toll from
overdosing, not increase it. Overdosing occurs as a result of the user
never knowing how strong heroin purchased illicitly will be. Drug
pushers are not interested in reliability when it comes to the
strength of heroin they sell.

The tonnes of heroin seized annually form a fraction of the illicit
drugs that get into Australia. Their seizure just raises the price,
which in turn raises the rate of drug-related crime.

Decriminalisation following the Swiss example proves that lives are
saved, drug-related crime falls and addiction plunges.

Bruce Spence

Balmain