FRESH APPROACH NEEDED TO DRUGS

There is still a massive amount of uncontrolled drugs on our streets
despite the ongoing efforts to reduce it through arresting dealers
("More than 2,000 drugs arrests in Norfolk, Suffolk and
Cambridgeshire", Evening News, April 26).

One could imagine the problems we would have if the sale of alcohol
was to be made an offence - would it stop people drinking? No.

Would it stop people selling? - no.

It would simply introduce crime and prevent control. It's the same
with drugs.

Throughout history people have taken substances (plants and plant
products) to ease their suffering, escape or simply "get high" - and
no doubt they will continue to do so.

But instead of granting them the same protection in law as the users
of alcohol get, the users of some drugs become criminalised and forced
to either go to dealers or else risk growing their own, in the case of
cannabis. Those users, whether they benefit or are harmed, whether
they harm others or not, risk arrest - all at taxpayers expense - a
massive amount running into billions annually.

Only the dealers profit and don't even have to assure quality or pay
tax. We can go on and on arresting users - but there will be more; we
can continue arresting dealers but there is a seemingly endless queue
of would-be profiteers willing to replace them.

Forty years down the line and all we have achieved is the
criminalisation of people many of whom did not harm at all.

It is time that the politicians admitted that the present "war on
drugs" has failed and an alternative approach is required.

Otherwise I confidentially predict we will read articles similar to
this one over and over again

Alun Buffry

Woodcock Road

Norwich