DRUG PROHIBITION JUST DOESN'T WORK

I came across your article, " We say, Drugs: Illegal for a Reason,"
in the July 21 edition of the Daily News. I found it rather amusing
that you would so blatantly cast aside fact and reason for personal
opinion as that.

I am aware that this is article is intended to hold the personal
opinion of the editorial board but it seemed that you stated an
opinion by even giving answers that could be graded as mere
assumptions for what might happen in the future.

I do not read the paper for someone's obvious smear on a subject they
have little information about. So here's some information on why drug
legalization and declassification might not be such a bad idea.

To start off, for as long as there will be plants and basic elements
and we still have our ability to be conscious beings there will be drugs.

The drugs are certainly an issue, but not the largest one; it's time
to recognize the real problems that cause people to use, ie: poverty,
job loss, no social support. Second of all, if drugs were regulated
who would even want to buy anything from a shady drug dealer when you
could get pure product that listed every single ingredient used in the drug.

This inevitably could lead to fewer overdoses and cases of poisoning
by harmful additives and cutting agents and also drastically
eliminate drug related crimes, which is an umbrella for prostitution,
gambling, vehicle theft, murder... the list goes on.

Drug legalization and declassification will also call for more
factual information on drugs, many drug related myths have been
peddled out by media and drug awareness councils when there hasn't
even been enough research on any drug including marijuana to
determine what the total and complete risks and repercussions of
using said drug are.

Prohibition has long been a known method that is a possibility but
through history has proven time and time again does not work. It
turns otherwise everyday law-abiding citizens into criminals in the
eye of the law.

Race is another factor that must be brought up, too. It is no secret
that drug-related arrests have been known to be racially motivated
against individuals of a non-white race. Denying this is turning a
blind eye to the injustice done to millions of people wrongfully
imprisoned mainly due to the color of their skin.

Legalization would remove the laws set in place that may
unintentionally project and enforce that stereotype. Last but not
least the drug industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. If tapped
into it would allow Canada to settle all debt and create a better
life for its citizens.

I don't know which answer is right myself but I hope you will at
least take these facts into consideration the next time you discuss
drug legalization.

EMMA YAUNISH

Kamloops