DRUG-POLICY DISCUSSIONS NEEDED IN CANADA

Drug policy in North American countries has been a long-debated topic.

America's War on Drugs, has been taking place for decades, and
Mexico's war, which has been ramped up, has received plenty of
headlines across the globe as well.

In Canada, like most things in this country, the battle against drugs
has taken a lower-key approach, but still has incorporated many of
the same philosophies of our neighbours to the south.

We might not achieve the same incarceration levels as the USA, which
boasts 25 per cent of the world's prison population, due in part to
its stance on illegal drugs, but make not mistake, Canada is indeed
trying to wage its own war.

There are people on both sides of the fence -- those who believe the
efforts need to be intensified, and mandatory minimum sentences
strictly enforced for drug possession, and people like Tamara
Cartwright, who appears on the front page of The Times this week.

Cartwright contends North America's approach to drug enforcement is
all wrong, and is pushing for legalization of certain substances.
That opinion was backed up Monday night on CBC's The National, by
author and gang expert Michael Chettleburgh, who called Canada's war
on drugs an utter and complete failure. His comments were related to
a public downtown gang shooting in Vancouver.

Certainly, there is credence to his point drug prohibition has
created an underground market for drugs, and the economic incentives
to deal in these drugs, often through gang affiliations, can be very lucrative.

Canada, and many other countries, have difficult choices to make in
terms of public policy on the matter in the years to come. After all,
the court system is clogged with drug cases (just ask the
Vancouver-area courts, who news reports have revealed will likely
never be able to prosecute those involved in the city's post-Stanley
Cup riots due to courtroom congestion).

Arguments for regulation, not prohibition, have also pointed out
governments could boost their collective coffers through taxes on
now-illegal drugs, much like alcohol and tobacco, two substances
which cause their fair share of societal and health-care problems as well.

But coming up with a comprehensive plan to deal with drugs is a
complex matter, and would involve governments admitting failure on a
policy issue which has become integral to many a country over the years.

There are serious issues to consider, which include the
highly-addictive and destructive nature of some drugs, and what drugs
in the end could be deemed legal, and which others should remain prohibited.

Whatever way our government decides to go, much discussion and
research is needed.

After all, this problem is not going away.