WAR ON DRUGS A JOKE TO EX-COP

In Norm Stamper's world, the "drug store" is a place that is much
different from what generally comes to mind.

The 28-year police veteran of the San Diego police department and
former Seattle police chief wants to see all street drugs legalized,
firmly regulated and sold just like we sell alcohol today.

And his "shopping list" includes marijuana, cocaine, heroin, even
crystal methamphetamine.

"The more dangerous the drug, the more addictive and the greater the
potential for health risks, the greater the justification for
regulation," he said last week in a phone interview from his San Juan
Island home.

Instead of making drugs more accessible, Stamper believes regulation
would make availability far more difficult, especially for children
and teens, who can get their hands on street drugs easier than they
can on a six-pack of beer.

Drug regulation policies would make communities healthier and the
jobs of police officers safer by removing the criminally-controlled
black market, he says. The grow-ops, the meth labs, the gunfights
between rival dealers would be gone if the profit motive disappeared.

"Drug traffickers would be out of business the day the ink dries on
legislation on regulation," said Stamper.

The veteran cop developed his views by seeing what he calls the
"futility of prohibition."

Stamper doesn't see much sense in imprisoning hundreds of thousands
of non-violent people in U.S. jails, while perpetuating a system
custom-made for traffickers and crime.

He makes it clear however, that he has no sympathy for drug dealers
and he doesn't promote drug use. He does believe adults have the
right to use drugs, but if their behaviour becomes irresponsible,
they should be accountable, just as in cases involving alcohol.

Stamper, who has a doctorate in behavioural psychology, is a speaker
for LEAP, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, [www.leap.cc] an
international group of current and former cops, judges, wardens and
others who think the "war on drugs," is a colossal failure.

Stamper will be at the Abbotsford campus of the Fraser Valley
University College tonight [5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.], debating the issue
of prohibition with UCFV criminology professor Dr. Darryl Plecas, and
Abbotsford police chief Ian Mackenzie, who also teaches at UCFV.

Plecas was one of the authors of an extensive report commissioned by
the RCMP on the marijuana industry in British Columbia.