HAS THE TIME COME TO END POT PROHIBITION?

Re: Ex-mayors call for end to pot prohibition, Nov. 24

Richard Nixon declared a "war" on drugs in 1970. Since then we have
spent over a trillion dollars arresting, trying, and incarcerating
North Americans. The result? Drugs are now cheaper and more plentiful
than ever. And our civil liberties are more vulnerable than ever.

Little has changed over the last 40 years. Police chiefs across the
country, come equipped with an array of statistics and PowerPoint
presentations in the attempt to increase their budgets, but instead
demonstrate their wasted effort and wasted money of the four
decade-long drug war: In 1970, four million North Americans (U.S. and
Canada) had used drugs; today it's 114 million.

In 1970, we spent $100 million fighting drugs; today we spend $70
billion a year (combined).

Cocaine costs 60 per cent less and heroin 70 per cent less than they
did in 1970.

In 1914, when America passed its first drug law, 1.3 per cent of the
population was addicted to some form of drug, Cameron said. By 1970,
when the war on drugs began, 1.3 per cent of the population remained
addicted. Today? It's still 1.3 per cent.

With political and law enforcement leadership such as this, the war
on drugs will be with us for at least another generation. It's a gift
we can pass to our children, along with the national debt.

William Perry

Victoria