News (Media Awareness Project) - New Zealand PUB LTE: Drug War Doomed To Fail |
Title: | New Zealand PUB LTE: Drug War Doomed To Fail |
Published On: | 2005-04-23 |
Source: | New Zealand Herald (New Zealand) |
Fetched On: | 2008-01-16 14:56:51 |
DRUG WAR DOOMED TO FAIL
Attempts to limit the supply of drugs while demand remains constant
only increase the profitability of drug trafficking. For addictive
drugs like heroin, a spike in street prices leads desperate addicts to
increase criminal activity to feed desperate habits.
Taxing and regulating cannabis, the most popular illicit drug, is a
cost-effective alternative to the drug war. While cannabis
distribution remains in the hands of organised crime, consumers will
continue to come into contact with sellers of hard drugs.
Given that cannabis is arguably safer than legal alcohol it makes no
sense to waste tax revenue on failed policies that finance organised
crime and facilitate the use of hard drugs.
ROBERT SHARPE
Common Sense for Drug Policy
Washington DC USA
Attempts to limit the supply of drugs while demand remains constant
only increase the profitability of drug trafficking. For addictive
drugs like heroin, a spike in street prices leads desperate addicts to
increase criminal activity to feed desperate habits.
Taxing and regulating cannabis, the most popular illicit drug, is a
cost-effective alternative to the drug war. While cannabis
distribution remains in the hands of organised crime, consumers will
continue to come into contact with sellers of hard drugs.
Given that cannabis is arguably safer than legal alcohol it makes no
sense to waste tax revenue on failed policies that finance organised
crime and facilitate the use of hard drugs.
ROBERT SHARPE
Common Sense for Drug Policy
Washington DC USA
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