DRUG DEALERS

Dear Editor:

Re: letter -- 'Prohibition equals bloodshed' (Leduc Rep, April 8, 2005)
Letter writer Barth's message is one also being endorsed by a growing group
of police, judges and others with long experience working the 35-year old
war on drugs. Formed three years ago, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition
(LEAP) believes we should end the drug war and legalize currently illicit
drugs.

A legal, regulated market for risky drugs is not without problems.
But those problems pale in comparison to having distribution of an
in-demand product controlled by gangsters, thugs and criminal cartels.
Illegal drug dealers actively sell to minors and conduct violence in our
neighbourhoods. They present a constant life threatening danger to police
and civilians, many of whom do not even participate in the market.

On the
other hand, legal drug dealers can be monitored by unarmed state
regulators, which leaves more time for police officers to better deal with
crimes against persons like drunk driving, domestic violence and sexual
assaults. Another benefit is the billions of tax dollars currently spent on
enforcing punitive criminal sanctions can be rechanneled into increased
education. Finally, we can better fund drug treatment programs on demand
for people who have a problem with any substance, including the two most
addictive drugs -- alcohol and nicotine.

It's time to put the illegal drug
dealers out of business, for the sake our children and for the safety of
our neighbourhoods. It's time to legalize drugs.

Stephen Heath

Clearwater, Fl.